De Laurentiis says Napoli sale is not in his plans
Napoli CEO Aurelio De Laurentiis has said he is not looking to sell the Serie A club. He confirmed that informal contact with Rizzetta took place about a year ago, but no due diligence or agreement followed. He also said Middle Eastern investors offered €3.5 billion, but he rejected the approach because he did not want to retire and wanted guarantees about his role.
De Laurentiis told Radio Kiss Kiss that Rizzetta sought a meeting roughly a year earlier. He said he replied as a courtesy, but the contact did not advance to formal checks or an agreement. He also said a Middle Eastern group proposed €3.5 billion, an approach he declined.
He explained that he wanted assurances about his future responsibilities, including after any reduced role, and referenced his 22 years at the club and supporters worldwide as reasons for seeking them. Napoli are a Serie A side.
The decision may mainly affect Napoli’s supporters and the club’s local community, who could see stability if ownership remains unchanged, or uncertainty if sale speculation persists. Players and staff may also face questions about long-term direction. For prospective investors, the reported conditions could signal that any deal would depend on guarantees for De Laurentiis’s role, potentially shaping how foreign capital enters Italian football.