but clearly he didn't take it
You're right. He didn't take it. Hence the whole situation where he agreed to come back for this coming season. But why would there have been all of that drama at the end of the year unless something else with another club was in the works?
Think about it. Conte had one more year left on his contract, and suddenly there are crisis meetings just after the scudetto is won? Why would there be such meetings?
I'm going to put this in a different light because as a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, I'm dealing with the same thing right now with Jim Harbaugh.
He currently has one year left on his contract, and he wants a salary commensurate with coaches who have won a Super Bowl, even though he has yet to win one. The 49ers aren't going for that unless the guy actually does win a Super Bowl.
There were talks of him being traded to the Cleveland Browns for multiple draft picks. Just becuase it didn't happen doesn't mean that discussions weren't in place