An emotional Luciano Spalletti played on the words of NBA-legend LeBron James with his comments after winning the Serie A title on Thursday evening, telling the DAZN cameras: ‘Napoli, this is for you.’
His comments were a nod to James’ statement after winning the 2016 NBA finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he told supporters: ‘Cleveland this one’s for you.’
Spalletti is the first man to lead Napoli to the Serie A title since Alberto Bigon in the 1989-90 season, and only the third title winning coach in the club’s history after Ottavio Bianchi won the Partenopei’s first in 1986-87.
He told viewers: “The first dedication is to the team, to the players who deserve this happiness. The second to all of Naples: this is for you.
“Then to all those who work in the club, to the manager, then to my daughter Matilde, to all my family, all my friends, my brother Marcello.”
Spalletti was particularly moved when mentioning the latter name as he lost his brother to battle with cancer in 2019.
Still, Spalletti was jubilant as celebrations for Napoli’s first Scudetto in 33 years continued long into the night back home in Naples.