ANT’S £20M PARKING SPOT OF BOTHER

Conte’s car space is part of compo wrangle with Chelsea

ANTONIO CONTE’S failure to park his Nissan in the correct space is one reason for Chelsea refusing to pay compensation to their former coach, it has been claimed.

The Italian and the Stamford Bridge club are locked in a £20million legal battle following Conte’s July sacking with 12 months left on his contract.

The former Juventus boss wants his £1l.3m salary paid up in full – and is now claiming a further £8.7m for damage to his reputation.

Chelsea have paid out several fortunes in compensation to managers under Roman Abramovich, including more than £30m for sacking Jose Mourinho twice.

And now as the Blues prepare to face BATE Borisov in the Europa League tomorrow, Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed Chelsea are refusing to pay up due to Conte’s handling of Diego Costa before his sale, his failure to turn up to appearances with sponsors, his lateness at post-match press conferences – and his bad parking at the Cobham training ground.

The dispute has become increasingly bitter with Conte, 49, reportedly failing to turn up to two meetings to thrash out a deal. It is claimed the Italian now wants to go to court on a matter of principle.

Conte is livid at the handling of his protracted dismissal. He was forced to return to Cobham and start pre-season training before his axing on July 13 when other top sides had appointed new coaches.

The Stamford Bridge club had started negotiations to appoint Maurizio Sarri from Napoli in May. Conte’s leaving statement issued via the League Managers’ Association thanked Chelsea players, staff and fans, but made no mention of Abramovich or chief executive Marina Granovskaia.

The former Italy boss led the Blues to the Premier League title in his first season while also reaching the FA Cup final and being voted LMA manager of the year.

But the relationship soured with Conte wanting more control over transfers

– and he texted Costa to tell him he wasn’t in his plans for the following season.

Conte became frustrated at Chelsea’s failure to sign his targets – such as Romelu Lukaku – and spent the next season complaining about the quality of the summer recruits.

He still signed an improved, though not extended, contract in July

2017, but FA Cup success was not enough to keep his job.

Conte looked set to take over at

Real

Madrid, but the deal fell through.