There was a time when Antonio Conte was Chelsea manager, which was a time when the Blues won a Premier League.
The Italian manager came in, won the trophy in his first year in charge, and then left when things didn’t quite turn out the same the following season when they finished fifth.
He still made quite the impact, and could have done so even more if he’d managed to sign one of the players he wanted at the time: Antonio Candreva.
The Italian winger was one of the names ticked by the current Inter manager, who eventually got to work with him at club level a couple of years later, but the move never materialised despite some attempts from the Stamford Bridge side.
Now on loan at Sampdoria, the 33-year-old was asked to look back to that time for Gazzetta dello Sport, who brought up his failed move to Chelsea.
He said: “There was a strong interest during the January transfer window, but nothing happened because I’d only just arrived at Inter (the previous summer from Lazio). If in the future, the possibility (of having an experience abroad) arrives, I could consider a nice offer”.
Candreva was sent to Sampdoria in September on an original loan, but the move will be made permanent next year, with the Serie A club paying Inter a fee of just over £2m.
All in all, he will have spent four years at Inter, a time he describes as ‘beautiful’, and states he always gave his all for the club.
Now a new chapter has presented itself, even if it’s one that has made him stay in Italy, his home country and the one when he has always played football in.
