Chelsea have been ordered to pay their former manager Antonio Conte £9million in compensation after a tribunal was settled in the Italian’s favour.
The 49-year-old masterminded Chelsea’s 2016-17 Premier League title winning campaign and beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final just two months before he was given his marching orders by Roman Abramovich.
According to The Times, Chelsea are not prepared to contest the tribunal’s decision, drawing a line once and for all under the bitter row between the two parties.
The Premier League club were said to be angered by Conte’s conduct and attitude during his final year at the club, during which he fell out with a number of high-profile players, while it was also felt his public spat with Diego Costa effectively forced the Spain striker to go on strike and prevented Chelsea from receiving what they deemed market value when he was eventually sold to Atletico Madrid.
For his part, Conte was angered by Chelsea’s decision to delay his sacking until less than a month before the Premier League began, with his legal team arguing it played a part in preventing him from getting another job.
The £9m Conte will receive means Roman Abramovich will have paid over £90m to axed Chelsea managers and that figure could yet rise should Maurizio Sarri’s contract be terminated after next week’s Europa League final against Arsenal.
Sarri is coveted by several Italian clubs, including Juventus and Roma, and the former Napoli coach met with Abramovich in Boston last week following Chelsea’s post-season friendly win over New England Revolution.
The 60-year-old is said to want a swift answer from the Chelsea owner with regards to his future, especially given his staff are yet to receive assurances over their own futures just weeks before a series of one-year deals are set to expire.
<b>Chelsea’s pay-offs under Abramovic</b><b>h</b>
Antonio Conte (July 2018): £9m
Guus Hiddink (May 2016): None
José Mourinho (Dec 2015): £8.3m (for him and his staff)
Rafael Benítez (May 2013): None
Roberto Di Matteo (Nov 2012): £10.7m
André Villas-Boas (March 2012): £12m
Carlo Ancelotti (May 2011): £6m
Luiz Felipe Scolari (Feb 2009): £12.6m
Avram Grant (May 2008): £5.2m
José Mourinho (Sept 2007): £23.1 (for him and his staff)
Claudio Ranieri (May 2004): £6m
TOTAL: £92.9m
Speaking about his future following the last game of the domestic season against Leicester, Sarri said: ‘I think so [I will still be here], but I am not sure.
‘I can say only that the club asked me for the Champions League, and we reached the target.
‘As you know very well, I love English football. I love the Premier League; it’s fantastic and the level is the best in the world, I think. The atmosphere in the stadiums is wonderful. I would like very much to stay here.’
