Aurelio De Laurentiis insists Victor Osimhen won’t leave Napoli unless there is a ‘more than indecent offer’ and claims he would’ve ‘got rid of’ Cristiano Giuntoli earlier if he’d known the director supported Juventus.
The President spoke at a press conference to present the new kit for the 2023-24 season, the first to have the Scudetto symbol on it in 33 years.
“Our manifesto is ‘A new era from Napoli to the world,’” said ADL, who also confirmed new main sponsor MSC cruises.
The arrival of French coach Rudy Garcia to replace Luciano Spalletti on the bench also ties in with the desire to make the club more ‘international’ and focus more on marketing.
“Every time I talk to Garcia, I tell myself that I made the right choice. We are reconstructing, as we have important players who collaborated to win the Scudetto, but when a person is appeased, perhaps that fire within them goes out. My job is to relight that fire.
“We have a list of players who have come to the end of their journey with us. I can even pay them for nothing if they are in the last year of their contracts.”
A player still in the balance is Nigeria international Osimhen, who is discussing a new contract extension amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
“Osimhen will absolutely wear this new jersey. If a more than indecent offer were to come in, then we’d get over it and would be able to find other talents. Don’t worry, here there is the Azzurri passion that enflames our hearts.”
With regards to that ‘passion,’ De Laurentiis hit out viciously at former director Giuntoli, who was released from his contract a year early so that he could take over at Juventus.
In his presentation interview, Giuntoli confessed that he had supported Juve since he was a child.
“I really did not expect that, it took me by surprise. If I had realised, I would’ve got rid of him earlier.”
The insults continued later in the conference when presenting eBay Italia general manager Alice Aciarri and asking if she supported Juventus.
“Finally, a non-Juventus supporter in our clan.”
