Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has unequivocally stated that the Serie A champions are “not for sale,” despite recent discussions with businessman Matt Rizzetta regarding a potential €2 billion acquisition.
De Laurentiis addressed the speculation following reports of his meeting with Rizzetta, an Italian-American businessman who is a majority stakeholder in Napoli Basket. The President clarified his position in an interview on Radio Kiss Kiss, as reported by Sky Sport Italia, firmly asserting: “Napoli are not for sale.”
Previous Offers and Current Stance
The club owner revealed that the €2 billion offer came from funds represented by Rizzetta between February and March of the previous year. He explained that while he met Rizzetta out of courtesy and lawyers were put in touch to assess the proposal, a due diligence process never began. The proposed deal would have seen part of the €2 billion paid upon signing, with the remainder spread over three years.
De Laurentiis also disclosed that he had previously declined an even larger offer of €3.5 billion from “the Arabs.” He indicated that his decision not to sell is rooted in his continued commitment to the club and his desire to oversee its future development.
Vision for the Future
Beyond rejecting immediate sale prospects, De Laurentiis outlined his long-term ambitions for Napoli, which include plans to build a new stadium. He emphasised that such a project would require significant personal commitment.
Looking ahead, the President also shared his preference should he ever decide to sell the club. “For now, I haven’t decided to sell, but if I did, I would prefer to sell to someone from Naples rather than an American,” De Laurentiis stated. He added that he would be content if a Neapolitan successor were to take over in the coming years, highlighting his 22 years of work for the club’s fans.