New deal for Conte Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte

LONDON. – Antonio Conte has signed a new two-year contract at Chelsea to banish any fears he could walk away from the English soccer champions.

Following a week when Chelsea have backed Conte in the transfer market by spending more than £74million on new signings, they agreed a record £9million-a-year deal with the Italian that is the same length as his original contract.

He was previously on £6.5million a year, and his rise makes him the highest-paid boss in Chelsea’s history. The board was especially unhappy with his handling of the decision to axe Diego Costa and it is believed that Conte has been forced to give them assurances about his future conduct.

He texted Costa and told him he was no longer wanted, which instantly reduced the striker’s value in the transfer market when the private note was revealed.

The striker was pictured wearing an Atletico Madrid shirt on Monday as he seeks to force a move away and has not travelled on the pre-season trip in China.

Chelsea have landed £34million Antonio Rudiger and £40million Tiemoue Bakayoko and are keen on bringing in a striker to replace Costa. This has helped relations with Conte, who was unhappy with the club’s efforts in the transfer market since winning the title.

Chelsea’s offer had been on the table since the end of the season when Conte guided the club to the title at the first time of asking.

But there were doubts over his long-term future at the club with murmurs of discontent over the transfer policy, the running of the club at the top and homesickness. And the Italian has been regularly linked with a switch to Inter Milan but has now committed to Chelsea.

“I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea,” he said. “We worked extremely hard in our first year to achieve something amazing, which I am very proud of. Now we must work even harder to stay at the top.

“The Chelsea fans have given me so much support since I arrived here one year ago and it is important we continue to succeed together.”

Chelsea offered Conte a new contract before the end of last season but the Italian boss refused to sign until the squad for next season started to take shape.

Express Sport understands he was tempted by an offer from Inter Milan, although Roman Abramovich was determined to keep his man.

Conte returned to Chelsea earlier this month after his summer break, with his future top of the board’s list of priorities.

Conte steered Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first year at the club last season. – ESPN.

 

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