Share

President, not Benitez, in charge of Napoli

Rome - With Rafa Benitez reportedly ready to leave at the end of the season, Napoli president and film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis is taking matters into his own hands ahead of a Europa League quarter-final match against Wolfsburg.

De Laurentiis ordered the squad into a permanent training camp after getting eliminated by Lazio last week in the Italian Cup semi-finals.

The hotel that the squad was put up in reportedly had no hot water and no functioning kitchen at times, prompting some players to order out for dinner.

After a convincing 3-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday — which ended a five-match winless streak in Serie A — players were allowed out for one night but had to report back the next day to prepare for Thursday's match in Germany.

"I've decided that the squad will go into training camp indefinitely," De Laurentiis wrote on Twitter.

"Napoli is a city full of distractions and now is the time for maximum concentration. Success has to be based on discipline."

Members of Napoli's staff disagreed with the move.

"My colleagues can oppose it but the decision is up to me," De Laurentiis said.

Napoli is attempting to win only its second European trophy, after Diego Maradona led the southern club to what was then known as the UEFA Cup in 1989.

De Laurentiis bought Napoli in 2004 when the club was bankrupt and has seen the squad rise from the third division to a perennial challenger in Serie A. 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE