Napoli had several special guests in the stands for this evening’s Champions League tie with Barcelona, including Marek Hamsik and European Super League chief Bernd Reichart.
The game was 0-0 at half-time at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the Blaugrana starting strong and testing Alex Meret with chances for Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan, but gradually fading away.
President Aurelio De Laurentiis was in the stands watching the third coach of the season, Francesco Calzona, make his debut after the late Monday appointment.
Former Napoli midfielder and current member of Calzona’s staff in the Slovakia national team Hamsik was in the stands next to him, having also attended the club lunch with Barcelona representatives.
However, it was noted that A22 Sports Management chief Reichart was also in the stands seated near De Laurentiis.
He had met with Lega Serie A President Lorenzo De Siervo earlier today, who released a statement assuring that Italian football remains against the concept of a breakaway Super League.
It seems as if Reichart might be shopping the project around to other clubs who might be interested and De Laurentiis has rarely if ever been on the same page as the Lega Serie A.
Rosto público do projeto da "Superliga", através da empresa A22 Sports, Bernd Reichart assiste a Napoli x Barcelona ao lado de Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Mais cedo Reichart se reuniu com o presidente da Serie A, Luigi De Siervo, que reiterou sua oposição ao plano. pic.twitter.com/Q4zf64Bqb4
— Leonardo Bertozzi (@lbertozzi) February 21, 2024