Former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte has reportedly turned down the chance to replace Rudi Garcia as Napoli manager.
Following the summer departure of Serie A title-winning manager Luciano Spalletti, Garcia - who was previously in charge of Lyon and Al-Nassr - had a particularly tough act to follow in Naples.
The 59-year-old departed Saudi Arabia after less than a year to take charge of the Italian champions on a two-year deal, but his side have flattered to deceive in the early portion of the campaign.
Garcia has led Napoli to just five wins from their opening 10 fixtures this season, including four victories, two draws and two defeats from eight Serie A contests, seeing the Partenopei lie fifth in the rankings and seven points behind leaders AC Milan.
Napoli scraped past Braga in their opening Champions League encounter before suffering a 3-2 home defeat to Real Madrid on matchday two, and Garcia's problems are not just limited to his side's performances on the field.
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During his sixth game in charge against Bologna, Garcia and star striker Victor Osimhen memorably engaged in a war of words after the former subbed off the Nigerian, although he soon played down the incident.
Nevertheless, Partenopei president Aurelio de Laurentiis is already said to be making plans for life after Garcia, who is not expected to willingly resign from his post, meaning that either a mutual contract termination or sacking is likely to occur.
Garcia remains in post at this juncture, but according to Fabrizio Romano, Napoli held a meeting with Conte on Wednesday to gauge the Italian's interest in replacing the Frenchman.
However, Romano claims that such discussions were "not positive", and no agreement was reached between De Laurentiis and Conte, who is in no rush to jump back into management.
The 54-year-old has been out of work since his explosive exit from Tottenham Hotspur in March, having launched a scathing attack on his team after they threw away a 3-1 lead in a 3-3 draw with Southampton.
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Conte is yet to find an opening that entices him, though, and he also appeared to publicly rule out a move to Napoli on his Instagram story, where he reiterated that he wants to continue spending time with his family following their prolonged time apart while he managed Tottenham.
"There are persistent transfer rumours that link me to important clubs, but I reiterate that for now there is only the desire to continue to sit still and enjoy the family," Conte wrote.
Due to Conte's rejection, Garcia's job could remain safe for the next few weeks, but De Laurentiis is expected to scope out alternative candidates heading into the winter months.
Another former Chelsea boss in Graham Potter has been linked with the role, although it is unclear whether the Englishman has any interest in returning to management so soon, having rejected the chance to take charge of French giants Lyon.
Napoli are next in action away to Hellas Verona on October 21 before a Champions League clash away to Union Berlin three days later.
Ben Knapton
