Conte is axed at last
Cheer up folks, Premier League is back in 28 days Blues finally pull plug
ANTONIO CONTE’S long goodbye from Chelsea was finally ended yesterday.
Chairman Bruce Buck drove to the club’s training ground to sack the Italian at lunchtime.
Conte’s much anticipated dismissal came 54 days after his last game as Blues boss, the 1-0 FA Cup Final win over Manchester United.
Fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri was in London yesterday as he prepares to be unveiled as the new manager at Stamford Bridge.
Conte is due a £9.5m pay-off from Chelsea, while the club will also have to fork out £7m to Napoli for their former boss Sarri.
They are also signing £50m midfielder Jorginho from the Serie A side, who are in turn expected to take Italian full-back Davide Zappacosta
CONTE’S A XED
for £20m from Chelsea. But the Stamford Bridge outfit have agreed not to raid Napoli for any more of their players.
Ex-Juventus and Italy boss Conte, 48, was a ‘dead man walking’ for most of last season due to his constant sniping at the Chelsea board over their failure to land his transfer targets.
He only survived the season because intended replacement, former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique – who has just been appointed Spain coach – demanded a staggering £500,000 a week after tax.
Conte, who won the title in his first season with the Blues, also angered the club with the way he told striker Diego Costa he was no longer part of his plans in a text message last summer.
Deal
Chelsea felt alienating Costa – who went public with the messages – led to his value dropping as suitors knew he wasn’t wanted at the club. He rejoined Atletico Madrid for £57m.
Sarri, who will sign a three-year deal worth £6.5m a year, speaks good English from his time working in an international bank.
He has asked for Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola to join his team at Stamford Bridge.
Former Blues keeper and club ambassador Carlo Cudicini, who drove Conte away yesterday, will also leave the Blues.
Aside from Jorginho, Sarri wants to snap up Juventus and Italy centre-back David Rugani for £35m.
Sarri, 59, will not have much time to settle in as Chelsea fly to Australia on Wednesday and face Perth Glory in 10 days.
RIYAD MAHREZ has backed himself to beat off fierce competition and break into Manchester City’s first team.
City’s new record £60m signing was unveiled yesterday after his move from Leicester.
But the Algerian says he hasn’t joined the Premier League champions just to sit on the bench.
“I’m very confident about myself and I hope to help this team to improve,” he said.
“Every club has great players and competition is part of the football. That’s good because everyone can improve and the squad can improve. It’s perfect.
“I’ll give my best to achieve for the club. If I can help add quality like
Mahrez a City slicker everyone in the team, we can make something good.”
Pep Guardiola’s side ran away with the title last season, setting an incredible 11 Premier League records as they reached the 100 points barrier.
But Mahrez is not worried about battling the likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva for a starting spot.
The 27-year-old said: “I never talked about City’s records.
“What they did was some amazing but I have never thought about this.
“I can play on the right, left, middle, I’ve no problem with that. I’ll play where the manager wants.
“The most important thing is not to play every week. I’m here to help to improve the squad, to try to help the team win games and trophies.”
Mahrez insists he has no worries about the size of the transfer fee City have paid for him.
He said: “I don’t think much about this. The most important is I’m here, happy and starting a new life.”