Rudi Garcia away from Napoli? More than a matter of hours according to the various Italian media. Fifth in the Serie A standings, seven points behind the Rossonero leader, Napoli is no longer the dashing and exciting team of last season. The reigning Italian champion has even just lost another home match against Fiorentina (1-3). A setback which came just after the one conceded in the Champions League against Real Madrid (2-3). Cut into small pieces by the Italian press, the French coach knows that his days are numbered in the Italian city if he does not raise the bar. If the Gazzetta dello Sport told us that President Aurelio De Laurentiis, very disappointed with his coach, had given him a possible ultimatum of three matches. Ultimately, the decision would have already been made internally.
“I’m having a bad time with him. I am an entrepreneur, I have a duty to take an interest in my business. The coach and sports director are at your service. I will make the most appropriate decisions when the time comes. Any hasty decision is bad. When you take a coach who no longer knows Italian football, maybe he has difficulties. This would have happened to anyone else. The only responsibility I have, in addition to having chosen the coach, is for not having had the chance to be close to him., said Neapolitan President Aurelio De Laurentiis at the start of the week, while the 74-year-old businessman was visiting Luiss University in Rome. But this time, the Mass seems to be said for Rudi Garcia who will already be packing up.
Conte on pole, Lopetegui on the list
Indeed, according to information from Italian journalist Matteo Moretto from the Spanish media Relevo, Rudi Garcia’s stay in Naples comes to an end today. As we revealed to you exclusively this morning, a decisive meeting was planned for this Wednesday between Aurelio De Laurentiis and Rudi Garcia to discuss the future of the French coach at the head of the Partenopei. The Neapolitan management will offer the former OL and OM tactician a consensual termination with a severance payment estimated at around 2.8 million euros, thus saving a year on the contract signed by the Frenchman. ‘last summer. The president’s favorite to take over is Antonio Conte, but today the agreement has not yet been concluded due to sporting and economic differences. However, he remains one of the main candidates. The pressure from the Italian team to convince the coach is total, especially in recent days and the discussions remain advanced, according to our indiscretions.
Always according to Relevo, if Antonio Conte remains De Laurentiis’ priority target, another name enters the dance with the future departure of Garcia: the Spaniard Julen Lopetegui. After his experiences as coach of Spain, coach of Real Madrid, Sevilla and Wolverhampton, the native of Asteasu is waiting for the right project to start again: in his head there would be the Premier League as the first major personal objective of his career, but the Napoli project would, surprisingly, enter his thoughts. It is clear that the next few hours will be decisive, in one direction or another. For the moment, the decision rests with the Campania club, which does not exclude exploring other options. The only clear thing is that Rudi Garcia will continue to lead the team until the president of Naples finds a replacement with guarantees and with some experience, with the aim of regaining sensations.
