Antonio Conte did not speak to the media after Inter were presented with the Serie A trophy, with assistant Cristian Stellini saying the coach needs a high-level project that the club must match.
Inter boss Conte, who has one year remaining on his contract at San Siro, is set for showdown talks with the club’s board after steering them to a 19th Scudetto and their first since 2009-10.
The Nerazzurri are in a difficult position financially following the coronavirus pandemic, with the future of the head coach and a number of high-earning players consequently uncertain.
Speaking after a 5-1 win on the final day of the season on Sunday, Stellini suggested Conte would be more than happy to stay at Inter but he needs the club’s ambition to match his own.
“It’s something many are asking about,” Stellini said to DAZN when quizzed on Conte’s situation.
“We should take a step back and think back to the start of this project. It was an important three-year project to bring Inter back to victory in Italy and to succeed in Europe. In Italy we achieved a fantastic goal. Great empathy was created between the staff and the players.
“This project should continue, but the answer will only come from the club. If this project can continue, we would be very happy. But when you have a top, high-level coach, the projects must be of a high standard and must remain at the top.”
It has been reported Inter could be forced to sell at least one big-name player due to their financial situation, something Stellini thinks would play a significant role in deciding Conte’s position.
“It could change things, but it’s something the club explains to the coach,” said Stellini.
“I don’t know if that will happen. I don’t know when the meeting will take place and what they will say. In that way, the club could also decide the fate of their coach.
“We are optimistic because we have created what we were trying to create, which is a team that excels in Italy and wants to grow in Europe.
“We have this possibility in our hands and we don’t want to let it slip away. It was difficult to think we could interrupt the domination of Juventus.
“The Scudetto was unthinkable. We all did an extraordinary job and that is why a team like this needs to keep growing.”
Inter finished the season with 91 points, making Conte the first Serie A coach to gain at least 90 in two campaigns with different clubs.
