Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis confirms he’s been in talks with Federico Bernardeschi’s agent and provides updates on the future of Kalidou Kouliably, Fabian Ruiz and Edinson Cavani.
The Partenopei’s chairman held a press conference today to unveil Napoli’s second pre-season training retreat in Castel di Sangro today. He spoke about many issues, mainly related to transfers.
Koulibaly and Dries Mertens are probably the most prominent names on his agenda. The striker’s contract runs out in June and ADL seems willing to offer him a new deal with a reduced salary. Koulibaly’s contract runs out in 2023 and he has been linked with Barcelona and Chelsea.
“If they want to stay, it depends on them, but we can’t break the bank,” said De Laurentiis, as quoted by Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I respect those two players, but one must understand if they are only interested in money or if they want to stay in a dressing room and in an environment that has given them satisfaction.
“If Milan win spending €40m less than us, it means that we went off the grid. I didn’t criticise the coach when we lost games that we could have won because he made us win matches that we could have lost.
“We’ll do everything to bring the Scudetto to Naples, but if we don’t make it, we shall not be depressed,” he continued.
“I’ve been talking to Bernardeschi’s agent for a couple of weeks. I talk to Luciano Spalletti and we’ll see how certain situations will evolve.”
Edinson Cavani’s contract with Manchester United expires in June and the Uruguay star has been linked with a return to his former club, but De Laurentiis denies the former Azzurri striker is an option for the future.
“One thing is to sign a 35-year-old goalkeeper, but with the strikers, it’s a different story. We need to make the right decisions for the team’s balance. He is a nice person, but the environment could create problems if he doesn’t play.
“I’ve spoken to David Ospina and I am waiting for a reply. Same for Fabian Ruiz, I’ve made an offer. We don’t want to sell anyone, but we are not going to break the bank. We are not becoming less ambitious, but we need to get back on track after the financial issues of the last few years.”
Ospina will be available as a free agent in June, while Fabian Ruiz’s contract expires in 2023, but Napoli may be forced to sell him if he doesn’t extend.
Both players have been linked with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. De Laurentiis sacked the Italian tactician in 2019 after one year and a half at the club, but has refused to take responsibility for that decision.
“I’ve brought Ancelotti here, he agreed to take a pay cut and I didn’t accept fans booing him for finishing behind Juventus, who had had favouritism,” he said.
“The most important thing is being honest and saying what one thinks.”
De Laurentiis: "Tratto Bernardeschi, ne parlerò con Spalletti. Koulibaly e Mertens? Napoli o la vil moneta" #calciomercato https://t.co/WlXk7nEQug
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) May 30, 2022
Listen pal you disrespected ancellotti and now he’s a champions league winner
Sell the club to someone will hold the superstar players and build to win trophies
I remember league games under Ancelotti in the second season, players not running enough, no pressing, no engagement. Something was wrong and Carlo, however much I admire him, was not the right choice for a club like Napoli.
You must sell the club Aurelio! You are a pappone!