There is a battle of ‘principle’ between Napoli and the Italian Football Federation that could prevent Luciano Spalletti from becoming the new Italy coach.
Roberto Mancini tended his resignation over the weekend and left the Azzurri without a tactician going into the EURO 2024 qualifiers against North Macedonia and Ukraine in early September.
Spalletti is the first choice to take over, but Napoli are refusing to release him from his contract without the agreed €3m penalty, despite the fact he is no longer working for the club.
President Aurelio De Laurentiis wrote a long statement explaining it was not for the €3m, but a matter of “principle” that he would not turn a blind eye.
At the same time, the FIGC could absolutely afford a €3m penalty to bring in Spalletti, as La Gazzetta dello Sport notes the Federation is running at a comfortable profit.
However, here too it is a matter of ‘principle’ that the national team should not have to pay a release clause for a coach.
It does lead to an impasse and one that could see the FIGC opt for Antonio Conte’s return instead.