Growing reports in Italy suggest that Maurizio Sarri is Napoli’s top candidate to replace Antonio Conte in 2026-27.

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Will Sarri replace Conte at Napoli in 2026-27?

Italian transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà reports that Lazio coach Sarri is the leading candidate for the Napoli job next season if Conte leaves.

The Partenopei boss is under contract at the Stadio Maradona, but his future at the club will be determined in the coming weeks, with a meeting expected between the Italian tactician and the Napoli management, including President Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Pedullà writes on X that “confirmations are coming from all sides” that Sarri is Napoli’s “top name” for next season if the club and Conte decide to part ways.

Sarri returned to Lazio last summer but has had a troubled season at the Stadio Olimpico, mostly due to a summer transfer embargo that prevented the Biancocelesti from making new signings for the first part of the campaign.

Sarri, 67, already spent three seasons at Napoli, from 2015 to 2018.

He won 98 of 148 games in charge of the Partenopei, failing to win the Scudetto in his final season at the club despite collecting 91 points.

Maurizio Sarri continued to cast doubts over his Lazio future ahead of the Coppa Italia Final. ‘I’ll talk to the club and we’ll see if we can respect this contract to the end.’

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The Aquile consolidated eighth place in Serie A with this evening’s last-gasp victory away to Cremonese, as Gustav Isaksen and Tijjani Noslin turned it around after the Federico Bonazzoli opener.

It is perhaps a better result that Sarri had expected when he started the season with a transfer embargo, then saw some big players sold in January.

Sarri not sure of Lazio status

“Our objective since the start of the season was to work in order to help improve a squad that had only the very smallest chance of getting into the race for Europe,” Sarri told DAZN Italia.

“Amid a thousand difficulties, I can say that today we are a different type of team, thanks to that progress. I don’t know if this will be the foundations for the future, that is not up to me.”

The coach also spoke later in a press conference and was asked outright if he will remain at Lazio next term.

“I am here for Cremonese-Lazio,” was his reply. “There are another four games to go, one of which is extremely important. Our minds are only on those.

“After that, we will sit down and talk with the club, then we’ll see if we can respect this contract to the end.”

Meanwhile, Sarri was furious with the Lega Serie A organisers for scheduling the Derby della Capitale at 12.30 local time.

“At the start of the season, we played the derby in 37 degree heat, now they are making us play in May at midday. It is an insult to the city of Rome, to two big clubs, and to the fans, so someone has to pay for that.

“I hope they won’t make us play at that time, and someone should resign just for proposing it. I can tell you now, if they do, I won’t turn up for press interviews in protest. Ask the Lega Serie A why they didn’t make Inter and Milan play at that time.”

Cremonese were heartbroken in stoppages as Lazio turned the game around with Gustav Isaksen and Tijjani Noslin to leave the hosts four points adrift of safety.

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The situation was increasingly desperate for the hosts, who risked being left four points adrift of safety. They had one point from four rounds, with Faris Moumbagna still injured, and Jamie Vardy back in the squad. The Aquile reached the Coppa Italia Final, but Matteo Cancellieri sat out a ban, with Danilo Cataldi, Ivan Provedel and Samuel Gigot injured, plus Kenneth Taylor, Mattia Zaccagni and Mario Gila not fully fit.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Oliver Provstgaard’s header on a Zaccagni free kick flashed inches wide, but Cremonese were forced to change injured Federico Baschirotto after a muscular strain in his right leg.

The hosts took the lead with a goal against the run of play, as Federico Bonazzoli hit a sudden snapshot from outside the box and it took Edoardo Motta by surprise at the base of the near post, with a howler from the goalkeeper.

Alessio Zerbin failed to make the most of an error when Provstgaard’s clearance ricocheted off Patric into his path, and Bonazzoli’s acrobatic attempt was smothered by Motta.

Nicolò Rovella came on for the restart, his first appearance since suffering a fractured clavicle on February 21, and Alessio Romagnoli nodded a corner into the arms of Emil Audero.

Lazio equalised with a classic counter-attack, as Nuno Tavares intercepted a corner inside his own penalty area and ran the entire length of the pitch, rolling across for Tijjani Noslin to then find Gustav Isaksen, sweeping in first-time.

Bonazzoli didn’t make the most of another Motta error playing out from the back, while Provstgaard threw himself in the path of a Vardy strike.

Motta got down to parry a sudden Warren Bondo screamer from distance, but he made a desperate fingertip save on Bondo’s snooker shot in the 90^th minute, Adam Marusic bravely throwing himself in the way to prevent a tap-in on the rebound.

Incredibly, it was Lazio who scored moments later when Noslin completed a give and go with Boulaye Dia to curl a wonderful right-foot finish into the far top corner from just inside the box.

Cremonese 1-2 Lazio

Bonazzoli 29 (C), Isaksen 53 (L), Noslin 92 (L)

04-05-2026 17:30

MatchDay 35

Stadio Giovanni Zini

Cremonese

Lazio

1 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

Federico Bonazzoli (Assist: Romano Floriani Mussolini)		29'
		40'		Oliver Provstgaard

2nd half

		53'		Gustav Isaksen (Assist: Tijjani Noslin)
Tommaso Barbieri		76'
		88'		Nuno Tavares
		90+2'		Tijjani Noslin (Assist: Boulaye Dia)

Match statistic

42

Possession %

58

13

Total shots

8

5

Shots on target

3

4

Shots off target

4

4

Blocked shots

1

3

Corners

3

1

Offsides

4

16

Fouls

13

Cremonese

Lazio

Starting lineups

1

Emil Audero

Goalkeeper

6

Federico Baschirotto

Defender

21'

3

Giuseppe Pezzella

Defender

22

Romano Floriani Mussolini

Defender

68'

5

Sebastiano Luperto

Defender

33

Alberto Grassi

Midfielder

61'

24

Filippo Terracciano

Midfielder

29

Youssef Maleh

Midfielder

7

Alessio Zerbin

Attacker

61'

99

Antonio Sanabria

Attacker

61'

90

Federico Bonazzoli

Attacker

40

Edoardo Motta

Goalkeeper

77

Adam Marusic

Defender

13

Alessio Romagnoli

Defender

17

Nuno Tavares

Defender

25

Oliver Provstgaard

Defender

4

Patric

Defender

46'

27

Daniel Maldini

Midfielder

46'

24

Kenneth Taylor

Midfielder

71'

26

Toma Basic

Midfielder

18

Gustav Isaksen

Attacker

81'

10

Mattia Zaccagni

Attacker

60'

Substitutes

69

Lapo Nava

Goalkeeper

16

Marco Silvestri

Goalkeeper

2

Morten Thorsby

Midfielder

23

Federico Ceccherini

Defender

9

Milan Djuric

Attacker

77

David Okereke

Attacker

18

Michele Collocolo

Midfielder

55

Francesco Folino

Defender

30

Mika Faye

Defender

15

Matteo Bianchetti

Defender

21'

10

Jamie Vardy

Attacker

61'

38

Warren Bondo

Midfielder

61'

32

Martín Payero

Midfielder

61'

4

Tommaso Barbieri

Defender

68'

29

Manuel Lazzari

Defender

3

Luca Pellegrini

Defender

21

Reda Belahyane

Midfielder

20

Petar Ratkov

Attacker

28

Adrian Przyborek

Attacker

99

Giacomo Giacomone

Goalkeeper

72

Nicolò Pannozzo

Goalkeeper

6

Nicolò Rovella

Midfielder

46'

14

Tijjani Noslin

Attacker

46'

9

Pedro

Attacker

60'

7

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Midfielder

71'

19

Boulaye Dia

Attacker

81'

The organised supporter groups of both Lazio and Inter Milan will stay away from the Stadio Olimpico for Saturday’s Serie A clash between the two sides, with Lazio’s ultras continuing their protest against the club’s ownership while Inter’s groups have chosen to join them in solidarity.

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According to Radio Laziale, via LaLazioSiamoNoi, representatives of Lazio’s organised supporter groups confirmed the decision, explaining that both sets of fans will instead gather together at Ponte Milvio ahead of kick-off. The boycott forms part of a wider protest that has characterised the second half of Lazio’s season.

Lazio ultras eye Coppa Italia final as priority amid Serie A boycott

The groups were keen to stress, however, that the decision is also partly tactical, with the Coppa Italia final against Inter just four days away, staying outside is seen as a way of easing tension and building unity ahead of the Stadio Olimpico showpiece.

“For the final we will be inside the stadium,” a supporter group representative said.

“The decision to stay outside for the league match, together with Inter’s organised groups, was also taken to enjoy the build-up together. A way of lowering the tension and anxiety four days before the Coppa Italia final. It will be a chance to be together and pass on some communications to the fans present. On Wednesday we will need great clarity and everyone pulling together. I’ll say it now: get in early on Wednesday.”

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