Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis outlined some of his ideas to shake up modern football, ranging from the removal of half time to city population-based leagues.
The Italian film producer just oversaw the club’s third ever Scudetto this season and has already been forced into action, with coach Luciano Spalletti stepping back from his role and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli keen to leave for Juventus.
An oft-divisive figure, De Laurentiis is now hoping to appoint Luis Enrique as Napoli’s new coach and will look to resist attempts to pry away Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from the Campania capital this summer.
Speaking on Che Tempo Che Fa on Rai 3, De Laurentiis first confirmed that Napoli are looking to sign a Japanese player.
“That’s what we are doing, on my way here a Japanese friend of mine called me and said he will send me the draft contract to scout for us in Japan.”
He was asked if he wanted to revolutionise modern football.
“No, I would like to recover the very young people who are getting addicted to smartphones and platforms and don’t have the conscience to follow football, they don’t have the patience. And that turns into a non-passion.
“I would like to talk to the Minister of Education and ask him to teach football in schools, as a subject of study, making them watch Argentina-France, so that we can become coaches one day.
“We still have the 15-minute half-time, it’s madness. There should be no half-time, we have 27 players to make the 90 minutes.”
The Napoli president then gave some ideas to shake up things in Serie A and the lower divisions.
“You have to be competitive by keeping your accounts in order, the secret is to do business and not to grip. If you don’t invest you accumulate debts, reds. There are companies that should make a clean slate and start from scratch, but with precise rules.
“Today there are but they don’t apply to everyone, there are no equal forces, it’s like the elephant with the mouse. There are unbalanced leagues.
“Footballers have to improve as they go along, like drivers who go from karting to Formula 1. You cannot compare a city of 3 million inhabitants with one of 30,000, even the sponsors are inferior.”
Finally, De Laurentiis discussed Napoli’s plans for the Scudetto party.
“It will be the party where there will be the award ceremony, the Cup, there will be Stefano Di Martino with all his skills, we will also be on air on Rai Due.
“At the Stadium it’s more complicated than in the theatre.”