Football News

Conte tells Italy international to quit Chelsea amid Inter Milan links

Antonio Conte has told defender Emerson Palmieri to leave Chelsea this summer in order to play a bigger role for another club.

Conte was the man who took Emerson to Stamford Bridge, signing him for £18million from Roma in 2018. Things have not worked out for him in blue though, making just 70 appearances in three-and-a-half years. 15 of those came in 2020/21, with the 26-year-old failing to work his way into the plans of either Frank Lampard or Thomas Tuchel.

Despite picking up winners’ medals in the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup, his career has stalled in London.

As such, reports claim the left back has become frustrated with his situation and is looking to leave.

A return to Italy appears most likely at this stage. Serie A champions Inter Milan are favourites, but Napoli are in the race for his signature too.

But regardless of his destination, Conte has told him to move on to pastures new, according to a report in the Daily Express.

Although he has included Emerson in his squad for this summer’s Euros, the Azzurri boss wants the player to secure regular minutes in order to rediscover his best form.

Emerson grateful for Conte advice

The story adds that Emerson is yet to decide on his future, so he has a big call to make this summer.

But he says Conte’s words were valuable to him as he knows his coach wants the best for him.

“It showed that he cared about me,” he said.

“He wants to see me doing well, so he said that perhaps it would be best for me if I headed to another ambitious team where I could play as much as possible and raise my game again.

“He expressed this wish, but we know that sometimes in football. It depends on other things, a number of factors.

“It’s not only up to me. All I can promise, whenever I’m with the national team, is to run and play to the last drop of sweat.”

READ MORE: Jack Grealish and a current Chelsea star were both recommended to AC Milan, but the Italian giants opted against pursuing them.

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