Aurelio De Laurentiis insists he has “coughed up a lot of money” at Napoli but warns he will only spend if he deems it ‘smart’.
Speaking at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples on Thursday evening, De Laurentiis also hailed his ‘director’, Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, and revealed he was looking at the possibility of moving the Partenopei out of the city centre, blaming the council for a lack of support.
Aurelio De Laurentiis insists he has “coughed up a lot of money” at Napoli but warns he will only spend if he deems it ‘smart’.
Speaking at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples on Thursday evening, De Laurentiis also hailed his ‘director’, Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, and revealed he was looking at the possibility of moving the Partenopei out of the city centre, blaming the council for a lack of support.
“The Quagliarellas, Lavezzis, Cavanis, Higuains, Mertens’, Insignes of history have passed through here,” began the President.
“We’ve written a lot of history in that time. We didn’t win the Scudetto, I’m sorry about that, but I got tired of this ‘who will you buy’ rubbish.
“January? Today, with the recovery of Milik and Ghoulam, plus the arrival of Inglese, we must be careful. For example, look at how Mario Rui or Ounas is developing, who Sarri really like Sarri. He’s a great teacher.
“They tell me to ‘cough up the money’, but we’ve coughed up a lot as it is and we’ll keep coughing it up but while being smart.
“Since 2007, years have passed of us being in a certain standing, without ever having to apologise to anyone, but football is changing and it’s difficult to deal with certain European teams.
“Napoli have to play with the big boys, but they must also have the ability to keep their budgets in order.
“It would be a breeze to just go out and buy whoever. I did it in cinema, but all these factors of production contributing to a concrete result is something else.
"Sarri? When I chose him, people put out posters in streets saying I was crazy, but now he’s our leading light and I happily stay away from the pitch.
“He’s the director I’ve chosen to make the most beautiful film that satisfies my spectators, the fans.
“I’m sorry if I can’t always make you [fans] happy, but I constantly try to. You’re my only objective.
“Stadium? Here in Italy, you might as well not bother going to the City to ask for something.
“We’re heroic, you fans are the ones that follow us and we’re the ones that have created a real industry in football.
“I don’t trust what happens in Naples and I’ve realised that I have to find myself some land. I can’t bring great players to a place that isn’t perfect.
“I’ve been conducting various tests. There’s this place that’s 7km from Naples, but with patience, it can be got to in 10-15 minutes, whereas today, to get from the [train] station to the San Paolo, it takes three quarters of an hour.
“I’ve got tired of a city that I’ve been waiting on to pay me back since 2007. Would I prefer to welcome a Scudetto or the Champions League in this museum? I wouldn’t give anything up.
“The best thing in life is to dream. It doesn’t cost anything.”