Aurelio De Laurentiis is not about to leave Naples. At the head of the Italian club for 22 years, the Neapolitan president revealed that he had rejected several particularly important takeover proposals, including an offer from Saudi Arabia estimated at 3.5 billion euros. Guest on Kiss Kiss Radiothe 77-year-old manager explained why he refused to sell his club despite the astronomical sums offered. “ The Arabs wanted to offer me 3.5 billion euros, but I didn’t want to retire “, he confided. A statement which illustrates his attachment to Napoli, which he accompanied from Serie C to the summits of Italian football. For De Laurentiis, the financial question therefore does not constitute the main obstacle to a possible sale. Above all, the president wishes to maintain a central role in decisions and continue the work undertaken since his arrival, particularly concerning the development of infrastructure and the new stadium project.
The Napoli boss also said he was approached about a year ago by Rizzetta, representative of several investment funds. Although initial discussions took place between the lawyers of the different parties, the discussions never really progressed. In question, the place reserved for it in the future organizational chart. “ Initially I was told that I would be in charge, that my role would gradually be reduced and that I would eventually become honorary president “, explained De Laurentiis, opposed to the idea of becoming a simple symbolic figure. “ I asked for guarantees to continue this work after 22 years with the club. I had a duty to Napoli fans around the world “, he added. If he does not completely rule out a sale in the future, the Italian leader displays a clear preference regarding his possible successor. “ For the moment, I haven’t decided to sell. But if I had to sell it, I would prefer to do it to a Neapolitan rather than an American. If a Neapolitan wants to replace me in two, three or five years, very good. » A possible transmission that he therefore sees more as a continuation of his project than as a definitive departure.
