Aurelio De Laurentiis confirms Napoli will produce their own shirts and drop kit sponsors after his own advisors told him he was ‘crazy’, but it won’t be designed by Armani.
The decision had been in the air, allowing the contract with Kappa to expire and not agreeing a new deal with any other kit sponsors.
“We have many followers in America, but nobody was buying our jerseys, so I said to myself, then we’ll do without a kit sponsor,” said the President during today’s lengthy press conference.
“My advisors all said: you’re crazy, no! Adidas, Puma and Nike take 18 months to get a shirt done, and you want to find someone who in so little time will design and manufacture them?
“And yet, I replied: **** ‘em. I spent all day yesterday in a factory working on this. I was on the phone with China today to talk about it.
“This idea might cost me money, but I am starting a new reality for football.”
There were reports that Emporio Armani were going to design the Napoli kits with their EA7 label, after they already designed Italy’s jackets and suits for Euro 2020.
“Emporio Armani did propose some ideas that I did not like, so I had a good laugh about that,” continued De Laurentiis.
“I will hold a press conference when there’s something more concrete and will probably present the first two kits at the Castel di Sangro pre-season training camp.
“A ship sent from China will arrive in Italy after 45 days, which becomes 60 days after various checks. I should be able to present the shirts from July 7-15.”
De Laurentiis is primarily a movie producer who works in Hollywood as well as Italy, so he has tried to bring different ways of doing things to the football world.
His daughter works in fashion and this prompted the attempt to manufacture Napoli’s own kits.