De Laurentiis says he turned down €3.5bn for Napoli
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said he rejected a €3.5bn takeover bid, according to several Italian media outlets.
Aurelio De Laurentiis has no intention of selling Napoli. The president of the Italian club has revealed that he turned down a €3.5 billion takeover bid, according to Foot Mercato. This information is confirmed by Calciomercato.com.
A record offer rejected
According to Foot Mercato, De Laurentiis, who has been at the helm of the club for 22 years, said he had rejected several takeover proposals. La Gazzetta dello Sport mentions a "miliardaria offer" and explains that the Neapolitan president will not step aside. Calcio e Finanza gives a different figure: €2.2 billion, offered by Rizzetta, a sum that De Laurentiis also reportedly refused.
Statements to the Italian media
ANSA reports De Laurentiis's comments: "I said no to a proposal to buy Napoli." Calciomercato.com quotes the president: "If I have to sell Napoli, I prefer to sell to a Neapolitan; I have already refused €3.5 billion from the Arabs." These statements were picked up by several Italian outlets.
A future still in Naples
De Laurentiis seems determined to stay at the helm. La Gazzetta dello Sport headlines that he will "hold on to" Napoli, despite the offers. No sale is therefore in sight, and the president continues to run the club. Meanwhile, Calciomercato.it raises another topic: sporting director Manna is not convincing, and De Laurentiis is reportedly thinking of Tare to replace him. This information, unconfirmed by other sources, remains conditional.
