Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says Antonio Conte is at the best club possible, and that no other major club would currently be interested in him. Neville also defended Spurs' record in the transfer market since the Italian arrived 14 months ago, with the club returning to winning ways on Monday evening with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham.
Harry Kane's 266th goal for the club - equalling Jimmy Greaves' record as Spurs' all-time top scorer - handed Conte's side a vital three points after suffering disappointing defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City the week before.
Prior to the contest at Craven Cottage, reports from Italy surfaced claiming Conte would leave the club at the end of his contract in north London. Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio told his 'L'Originale' programme: "The news I can tell you with certainty is that Antonio Conte will leave Tottenham at the end of the season.
READ MORE: Harry Kane issues fresh Tottenham contract update and discusses Antonio Conte future and meeting
"There was no spark, his contract is expiring and the club has not asked him for a renewal. The club does not like the frequent jibes.
"Conte wants players to win, while the club prefers to trade, the feeling with the club has not clicked. His family, among other things, has remained in Italy.”
And after the full-time, Neville presented his defence of Spurs' backing of Conte since he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last season. Speaking on Monday Night Football alongside Jamie Carragher, he said: "Who’s going to have him now? Tell me what club in England is going to have him.
"Tell me are Barcelona or Real Madrid going to have him? No. What club in Germany - are Bayern Munich going to have him? No. Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Manchester United - no. My point is he is at the best club he could possibly be at this moment in time. There’s all these rumours coming out that he’s unhappy at the club, that he won’t sign his new contract.
"I look at that and I think Tottenham are very lucky to have Antonio Conte - he got into the Champions League last season, he’s doing that job that to be fair they wanted, they’re only a few points off the Champions League, and for Conte’s point of view, what club is he going to get currently that is better than Tottenham Hotspur?
"They’re in the Champions League, they’ve got the most unbelievable stadium I think in European football, he’s signed Bissouma, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Bentancur, Romero, and I’ve probably missed one out. It’s £190million worth of signings in two windows - and that doesn’t include Kulusevski, who’s still on loan technically. £200million, so the idea that Spurs haven’t supported him is wrong, it’s a myth.
"I think both them [Conte and Tottenham] should go and shake hands tomorrow, sign a deal and get themselves right because in some ways it’s like they’re wandering down the road aimlessly as if they’re not mates. Why would they not be mates? Conte’s got Tottenham into the Champions League, he’s also been given £200 million back, he’s been given the players that he wants, and I’m not quite sure why these dark clouds are appearing over Spurs. What’s Conte’s problem with Spurs? And what’s Spurs’ problem with Conte? I don’t know.
"At the end of the day, if you’d had said to me you’d give Conte £200million in two transfer windows I would say he’s been well-supported based on what Tottenham have done in the past. I wouldn’t say that’s not supported, I would say that’s being well-supported.
"Alright, they’ve not spent £400 million like Chelsea or Manchester United have done - but let’s be clear, Manchester United panic signed Casemiro and Antony and overpaid in that period when they lost 4-0 to Brentford, Chelsea are about chaotic as it gets at this moment, throwing money left, right and centre and giving players 25-year contracts, to amortise more at that length.
"At this moment in time, £200million on those six players, if you’d had said to me two transfer windows ago Conte would get that, they’d finish in the Champions League and be three points off the Champions League now, playing AC Milan in a few weeks time, I’d say it’s going really well. Why’s it not feel like it’s going really well?"
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