Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed receiving an offer to purchase the club, but he stresses that financial considerations are secondary to finding a successor who can lead with the same level of passion and dedication.
The Napoli president revealed that an American consortium has expressed interest in acquiring the Serie A team. Reports from The Athletic and Corriere dello Sport previously indicated a €2 billion offer from a group led by Matt Rizzetta, which was reportedly rejected. However, the consortium is said to remain hopeful of a deal in the near future.
De Laurentiis recalled a similar offer from American investors in 2017, which he also declined, stating that the club’s journey was far from over. He also mentioned a substantial $3.5 billion offer from Arab investors in 2021 for both his film production company, Filmauro, and Napoli.
“The problem isn’t money,” De Laurentiis stated at a press conference. “It’s whether a successor can lead with heart as well. When you make movies, you can only do them with heart, and the same goes for football.”
The press conference took place following Napoli’s 1-0 victory over Udinese on the final matchday, where coach Antonio Conte confirmed his departure after two seasons.
“You know, cycles sometimes end early,” De Laurentiis commented on Conte’s exit. “This is your home, but maybe you are not serene anymore… towards a league that Napoli forces you to face in a certain way. Napoli can’t be PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or the top English clubs. We must respect the budget, and we can’t go beyond it. The Italian league is not so extraordinary because the quality of play has declined dramatically.”
De Laurentiis and Conte had reportedly agreed to part ways in April. When pressed about Conte’s replacement, the Napoli president remained tight-lipped, stating, “We have a strong team and many players coming back. Perhaps, they had shortcomings for Conte’s style of play, but they might fit in well under a new coach.”