Diego Maradona has branded Antonio Conte’s move to Chelsea as “shameful”, due to the manager signing a deal whilst still in charge of the Italian national side.
Conte penned a contract with the Blues earlier this month, following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho in December.
However, the 46-year-old will not link-up with the Premier League side until July, after he has led Italy to Euro 2016 – his only tournament as an international manager.
Maradona, who played against Conte in Serie A in the 1980s, is adamant that the coach should not have looked past his current job with the Azzurri.
Speaking to Piuenne (via Football Italia), the Argentinian icon said: “What happened is disgusting!
“The coach of the Italian nazionale who signs for Chelsea! That seems shameful to me.”
Though Maradona is vehemently against the deal going ahead so early, Conte’s arrival has certainly enticed English football fans ahead of 2016/17.
During his time managing Juventus, the former midfielder won three successive Serie A titles – a run the club stretched to five on Monday, now under Massimiliano Allegri.
In Conte’s final season with the Old Lady, 2013/14, he oversaw a spectacular record of winning 33/38 league games.
His defensive unit – comprised of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, behind centre-backs Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci – were in fantastic form, conceding the lowest number of goals (23) across Europe’s top five divisions.
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