In a surprising show of patriotism over club interests, Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has stated he would not stand in the way of manager Antonio Conte if the Italian national team came calling. This revelation comes amid a period of significant transition for Italian football, following the FIGC's recent leadership vacuum.

Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of a documentary celebrating Napoli's latest Scudetto, De Laurentiis told reporters, "If Antonio asked me, I think I’d say yes." He tempered this endorsement with a note of caution, suggesting Conte himself might be hesitant to take on a role he perceives as currently "entirely disorganised."

Conte, a fiery and tactically astute manager with a proven track record at Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan, is a leading contender for the Azzurri job. The position became vacant after Gennaro Gattuso resigned in the wake of Italy's devastating World Cup play-off elimination, which also prompted FIGC President Gabriele Gravina to step down.

The federation is in a holding pattern, with a new President set to be elected on June 22. For two friendly matches in June, Italy will likely be led by a caretaker coach, with Silvio Baldini the expected interim choice. This delay pushes any permanent coaching decision to the end of the month at the earliest.

De Laurentiis didn't stop at discussing the bench; he also weighed in on the FIGC's top job. He threw his full support behind Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, calling him "the perfect person" to first serve as a commissioner and then lead a reformed federation.

This news underscores the interconnected drama of club and country in Italian football. As the Azzurri look to rebuild their identity and return to the world stage, the potential acquisition of a serial winner like Conte, with the blessing of a powerful club president, marks a fascinating first step in that recovery mission.