Antonio Conte was again absent from Tottenham training on Friday and it remains unclear if or when he will return to the club following his explosive rant in the aftermath of last weekend’s draw against Southampton.
Conte flew back to his native Italy the day after watching his side surrender a two-goal lead in the final quarter-of-an-hour at St. Mary’s, having afterwards labelled his players “selfish” and aimed veiled criticism at both the culture and ownership of the club.
Spurs insist it is not unusual for Conte to take an extended break in his homeland during the international break. The 53-year-old's wife and daughter still live in Italy, where the manager also spent time recently to recover from gallbladder surgery.
However, no date has been set for his return to Hotspur Way and assistants Ryan Mason and Cristian Stellini are continuing to take training with a skeleton squad of players not involved with their national sides.
Conte’s prolonged absence has only increased the uncertainty around his future, with the Spurs hierarchy understood to be weighing up their options. It has long been accepted that the Italian would not extend his stay beyond the end of his contract this summer, and senior players do not expect him to be in the dugout when Tottenham resume their Premier League campaign away to Everton a week on Monday.
The club are expected to monitor developments in Germany following the sacking of Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, due to be confirmed imminently.
Spurs had been interested in having Nagelsmann succeed Jose Mourinho but missed out on the German coach to Bayern and eventually appointed Nuno Espirito Santo in the summer of 2021.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who had been linked with the Tottenham job and was thought to be open to a return to Premier League management in London, is expected to be announced as Nagelsmann’s successor, ruling him out of contention to replace Conte.
