Napoli released a statement on Wednesday denying reports a sale of the club had been agreed.
A report from a local TV station, led by Italian state-TV Rai, had suggested a sale of the club had been agreed for a price of €650 million.
However, Napoli have categorically denied this. A club statement read: “Out of nowhere, Rai, during a Regional Campania new bulletin, claimed Napoli had been sold to for €650m.
“In any normal situation, a fabrication like this wouldn’t even need to be denied but given that Rai (that as sources cite “leaks”) is a “public service,” we are forced into it. [Aurelio] De Laurentiis has no intention of selling Napoli and there is no negotiation happening.
“In face, in the past, he has rejected offers close to $1 billion. The hook cited for these “leaks” is that president De Laurentiis would like to live in the States. De Laurentiis has always lived in Los Angeles and Italia and has recently returned from a month-long trop from his California residence.
“He doesn’t need to sell Napoli to move to the United States when his work already requires it.”
De Laurentiis, a film producer, bought Napoli in 2004 when the club was in third tier of Italian football and bankrupt.
He stated at the time that his aim was to return them to the top flight and made good on his promise.
With two promotions in three season, they were back in Serie A in 2007 and four years later qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
De Laurentiis regularly receives praise for how well run the club is as one the only teams in Serie A to regularly turn a profit.