Inter sets new records in Serie A, but will Conte stay?

The season is officially over for Inter, but in reality the most important job starts tomorrow – the mission of keeping coach Antonio Conte at the club. The Italian tactician has been one of the key parts of the squad which won their first Scudetto since Mourinho in 2010. Conte and his boys clinched the title ahead of time, on May 2nd, while today’s 5-1 win over Udinese was just a formality.

Inter finished the season with 91 points, the second-highest figure in their history after the 97 during the 2006-07 season. Inter managed to beat every single opponent they faced at least once in the home and away fixtures, again something they had only ever achieved once before. Conte’s 2021 men are officially the third most efficient Inter teams with 89 goals during the season, their highest since 99 in 1949 and 107 goals in 1950 seasons.

But, the future in unpredictable. Antonio Conte gave an ultimatum to the club leaders that, if there is no money for bombastic reinforcements, they don’t sell the best players, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport. The coach met with the directors Beppe Marotta, Alessandro Antonello and the vice-president Javier Zanetti beforee the Udinese match. During the conversation, he pointed out that, despite great interest, he insists that Lautaro Martinez, Stefano de Fry, Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar stay in the club. Conte considers them the backbone of the team and wants to build around them, if he stays in Inter.

It was only the first round of negotiations, as on Monday, he will meet the president Stephen Zhang. The fate of Antonio Conte at Inter will probably be determined after this meeting, which can result in either in Conte’s resignation, or the continuance of cooperation. The financial crisis is shaking the Italian giant, and the Serie A title cannot change that. A possible reduction of the salaries of all employees in the club is mentioned, which could significantly affect Conte's desire for the club to keep the best players. The question is whether everyone will accept to give up the alleged two salaries. Monday can easily be a D day for the new Italian champions.

SERIE A - ROUND 38

Saturday

Cagliari - Genoa 0-1 (0-1)

/Shomurodov 15'/

Crotone - Fiorentina 0-0

Sampdoria - Parma 3-0 (2-0)

/Quagliarella 20', Colley 44', Gabbiadini 64'/

Sunday

Inter - Udinese 5-1 (2-0)

/Young 8, Eriksen 44, Martinez 55(p), Perisic 64 Lukaku 71 - Pereyra 59/

21.45: Atalanta - Milan

21.45: Bologna - Juventus

21.45: Napoli - Verona

21.45: Sassuolo - Lazio

21.45: Spezia - Roma

21.45: Torino - Benevento