The announcement of Rudi Garcia’s departure from Napoli is eagerly awaited, but that of his replacement is even more so for supporters of the reigning Italian champion. The Neapolitan management, led by its president Aurelio De Laurentiis, has accelerated internally since Sunday and the defeat too many against Empoli (0-1), to find a new coach. After a meeting organized in Rome with its leaders Mauro Meluso, Maurizio Micheli and Antonio Sinicropi, De Laurentiis seemed to have set his sights on a former OM player.
Indeed, the name of Igor Tudor quickly sounded like that of the favorite to replace Rudi Garcia, even if Fabio Cannavaro was also polled. Like last season to replace Luciano Spaletti, the casting list is long, but the Partenopei finally offered a one-year contract to the ex-OM coach, who would have finally agreed with the conditions set by the Neapolitan president. The Croatian coach and his agent were waiting for the final decision made by the Naples management.
Igor Tudor hoped for a longer contract
But while the Italian media were only waiting for Tudor to become official on the Neapolitan bench, Aurelio De Laurentiis could finally change his mind and opt for another name. Indeed, while Tudor remains awaiting an official response from De Laurentiis, the president of Naples seems at this moment really more tempted and determined to bring Walter Mazzarri back to Naples, rather than trusting Igor Tudor.
The reason ? The 45-year-old Croatian manager would like a contract of at least two years, while Mazzarri has already accepted a 6-month contract in Naples, with no additional option for the future, according to the Italian edition of Sky Sports. It is therefore he who should ultimately win the Naples bench, especially since he is close to Aurelio De Laurentiis and the Napoli environment. The 62-year-old Italian manager started as an assistant at Naples before taking the reins of the team between 2009 and 2013 and winning an Italian Cup there in 2012.
