Antonio Conte ‘agrees return to football after talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ 10 months after Tottenham axe

ANTONIO CONTE is being lined up as the next manager of AC Milan, according to reports.

The Italian manager has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham last March.

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Antonio Conte could be set to join AC Milan[/caption]

Milan boss Stefano Pioli led them to the Serie A title in 2022 but his side are third and way off the pace this season.

Pioli is facing the sack and Milan are readying Conte as his replacement, according to Football Italia.

The report claims the Serie A giants have already agreed terms with the former Inter Milan boss.

It adds he has held talks with Zlatan Ibrahimovic – a senior advisor to Milan.

Conte was linked to Napoli but reportedly turned down the opportunity as he wanted a longer sabbatical to spend time with his family.

He has also been on record saying he will not accept a project halfway through a season – having regretted doing so when he took over Spurs in November 2021.

Conte managed Milan’s rivals, Inter, from 2019 until 2021 but his association with I Nerazzurri is not thought to harm his chances of joining the Rossoneri.

Milan and Inter have a friendly rivalry known as the “derby of the cousins”.

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Conte, 54, also failed to rule out a potential return to Juventus in the future, whom he won three Serie A titles with as a manager.

When asked about a return, he said: “Marriages are done in two, you can always dream and hope to get married another time.

“The important thing is that there is sharing of thoughts.

“Now I want to make the most of my free time, continuing to study to broaden my knowledge.”