Ex-Chelsea boss boss Claudio Ranieri has suggested Antonio Conte is unhappy at Stamford Bridge because he is missing new signings more than his homeland.
The current Blues head coach admitted last month he does not want to “stay abroad for too long” and has not extended his contract beyond 2019.
But Ranieri, who was sacked by Roman Abramovich in 2004, said: “The Premier League remains the best and I have not convinced of Conte’s desire to return home. Maybe he was expecting a different transfer window but for a few years, Abramovich has not paid crazy prices.
“Manchester City and Manchester United on the other hand have made big buys so I can imagine that for Antonio to fight on more fronts with the same players is more tiring.”
Ranieri is now at Nantes who are fourth in Ligue 1 after tightening up the defence and conceding only one goal in their last six games. Yet he insists the Canaries cannot emulate his Leicester City and win the title with big-spending Paris-Saint Germain looking to reclaim their crown.
The Italian told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Let’s not make comparisons. In training I see in the boys the concentration, intensity, determination and attention to detail to improve like at Leicester.
“But PSG have Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani. Only they can lose the title but it already happened last year with Monaco who had a great season.”
But Ranieri, now 65, said Leicester had proved an inspiration for smaller teams like Nantes, Burnley and Hannover who are high up their respective leagues.
“You can see that after Leicester everyone is giving it a go, thinking that if it went well with us, anyone can do it,” said the Italian. “It is a good spirit and provides a great show.”
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