Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis discussed the stadium controversy and why football “is sick.”
The patron and Hollywood movie producer spoke to reporters at a book launch in Naples, also attended by former President Corrado Ferlaino.
“In recent years, football has been modified to an extreme degree and has become industrialised. For example, in England football suffered through a terrifying period and was then revived thanks to laws that allow families to go to the stadium.
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis discussed the stadium controversy and why football “is sick.”
The patron and Hollywood movie producer spoke to reporters at a book launch in Naples, also attended by former President Corrado Ferlaino.
“In recent years, football has been modified to an extreme degree and has become industrialised. For example, in England football suffered through a terrifying period and was then revived thanks to laws that allow families to go to the stadium.
“Nobody ever opposed Arsenal when they wanted to invest in the construction of a new stadium. It’s different here in Italy. Our laws are wrong and leave us open to a thousand problems.
“Mayors have to be proper city managers. In Italy we are slaves of the political condition. The Mayor must deal with various elements who want nothing other than for his political life to die out early.
“We made the steps that the law forced us to make. I chose an architect who, having built the Juventus Stadium, is clearly up to the task.
“It irritates me when people talk about insufficient funds. At dinner Mayor De Magistris was very curious about my project. We left it at a handshake and a hug, then I don’t know what happened.
“Experts studied the financial plan of the project, the council had the time to discuss it. In this climate, with my extraordinary ability to keep cool under pressure, I was able to buy players and supervise the condition of the San Paolo every time they tried to destroy it.
“It doesn’t seem to me as if this city is on Napoli’s side and it should’ve clarified the disinterest from the start. I want to see how far this city will follow me on an institutional level.”
De Laurentiis also discussed the financial pressures of running a Serie A club and why football really is a business now.
“You cannot go back in time constantly. Football is sick. In the end, competition counts only up to a certain point.
“I always interpreted football the way I did cinema, by making a profit. I set aside €10m to build new structures for youth and I’m also investing in America, where I’m trying to set up a club. I hope that Italian football and American football can help each other evolve.
“A President today is a real entrepreneur. He absolutely must make money from the club he founded. All the mistakes I made were at the disposal of Napoli.
“This city needs a rebirth, without doubt. We must put in command of this city serious professionals who work for the citizens, just as I work for the fans.”