Antonio Conte’s agent has dismissed reports linking the Italian coach with the Al Ahli job, as Marino Pušić comes under mounting pressure following setbacks in the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Elite.
Asharq Al-Awsat named Conte among the candidates under consideration by Al Ahli’s board, reporting that the Italian had set steep financial terms for accepting an offer.
Asked by WinWin about the reported contact, Conte’s openness to coaching in Saudi Arabia and his alleged financial demands, agent Federico Pastorello replied, “None of it is true.”
Asharq Al-Awsat identified Thiago Motta as the leading candidate to succeed Pušić, with German coach Ole Werner also among the names being considered as Al Ahli’s board weighs up the future of its coaching staff.
The pressure on Pušić intensified after Al Ahli lost 6–1 to Al Shabab on Matchday 12 of the Saudi Pro League and then drew 0–0 with Qatar’s Al Sadd in Doha. The draw kept Al Ahli unbeaten in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Pušić’s agent, Rob Jansen, also spoke to WinWin about his client’s future. “In football, no one can be certain about their future, but so far Marino and his staff are doing a good job.”
Pušić took charge in August on a contract running until 2028. He succeeded Matthias Jaissle, who led Al Ahli to back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles before moving to Newcastle United.
Conte, 57, has been out of management since leaving Napoli by mutual consent after the 2025–26 season, when his side finished runners-up to Inter Milan. He had led Napoli to the Serie A title the previous season, becoming the first coach to win the Italian league with three different clubs after lifting the trophy with Juventus and Inter.
