Conte: Real Madrid? At that time it was a hot potato Transfer Market Italian coach confirmed Chelsea was in his past

It was widely reported at the time of Julen Lopetegui's dismissal that Antonio Conte would be the coach to take over control at Real Madrid, yet the Italian has made clear that at that moment the club was akin to a 'hot potato' and that it wouldn't have been wise to take charge.

Having spent the entire summer unsure of just where his future with Chelsea lay, the former Juventus icon has been out of work for the entirety of the 2018/19 season, even turning up to watch the Coppa Italia clash between Atalanta and Juventus as a supporter on Wednesday evening.

"The Real Madrid job was a hot potato at the time," he confirmed in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I thought it was better not to go. There was a possibility, but I don't like arriving at a club in the middle of a season, I prefer to work from the start."

With both Inter and Roma perhaps preparing for a summer in which they will need to appoint new coaches, it's unlikely that the former Chelsea boss will be short of offers, although he was quick to deny that he'll be coaching anywhere in the 2018/19 season.

"Until the summer you won't see me anywhere, this is certain," he intimated.

"With regards to Inter, people have been speaking about this for a long time but that's only speculation.

"There hasn't been any contact or offers, I will assess my future calmly."