Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed his intention to keep Luciano Spalletti on as Napoli coach despite the team’s failed title challenge this season.
The Partenopei looked to be serious contenders for the Serie A title this season alongside Inter and Milan but they disappointingly fell away as the season started to draw to a close, leaving the two Milanese clubs to duel for the Scudetto. Frustratingly for the fans, Napoli won their last two games back to back, six points that came too late in their league title push.
Speaking at a ceremony unveiling a miniature of a Diego Armando Maradona statue, De Laurentiis discussed the future of coach Spalletti.
“The coach is an employee of the highest level, I did not take him here to make bubù-settete, I took him because he was Mr. Spalletti. He has a contract and I have always said it was a 2-year contract with an option in my favour for the third. Spalletti is staying here.”
He then discussed if Spalletti has made himself at home in the Campania capital.
“No. He’s the one who has to feel that Partenope is in his head and in his soul, if it’s dyed blue, he can’t do without it. Let him work and acclimatise.
“I didn’t give interviews for eight months, I needed to get to know the coach and the man. And in my opinion the coach is formidable and the man is serious, two things that make me say that this time too I have hit the mark.”
Finally, De Laurentiis discussed the need to move his film production company to Naples.
“I’ve understood something very simple: I have to move Filmauro to Naples. At least three times a week I have to be in Castel Volturno to deal with various problems because these guys have wives, families, children.
“Spalletti himself has two grown-up children, but also a 10-year-old girl and a wife who live in Milan. It’s not an easy situation, they are not puppets but people with problems, feelings and families.”
Spalletti’s work was enough to qualify Napoli for the Champions League, giving them vital funds ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
#DeLaurentiis su #Spalletti: "L'allenatore è un dipendente di grande carica…" https://t.co/Nhk59Nu2fa
— Si Gonfia La Rete (@_SiGonfiaLaRete) May 9, 2022
Good! I’m happy about this. Let’s have some stability in Napoli for a change.
Dear adl, please stop disrespecting Maradona with your pathetic marketing stunts. Thank you.