Aurelio De Laurentiis opens door to Antonio Conte taking Italy job
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said he would not stand in the way of Antonio Conte taking charge of the Italian national team, should the coach be approached. Speaking to CalcioNapoli24.it, the outspoken club owner gave his blessing for the former Inter and Chelsea manager to take the role, should the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) make a serious approach.
De Laurentiis, currently in Los Angeles for the US premiere of a documentary on Napoli's title win, was asked if he would release Conte, who is under contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona until 2027. "Would I give Conte to the national team? If Antonio asked me, I think I would," De Laurentiis said. He added, however, that he believed the 54-year-old would be reluctant to take the job under the current FIGC structure, describing the federation as "completely disorganised".
De Laurentiis's comments come amid a period of turmoil for the FIGC, with president Gabriele Gravina's tenure set to end later this year. De Laurentiis threw his support behind the potential candidacy of Giovanni Malagò, the president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, to lead a reformed federation. "He is the perfect person to be commissioner first and then president of a new federation," De Laurentiis stated.
The Napoli owner used the platform to launch a broader, scathing critique of the Italian footballing structure. He argued that Serie A, which he said provides the vast majority of the FIGC's funding, is under-represented in the federation's governance. "Italian football is considered a Cinderella, with only 18% of the vote, while amateurs and players have the majority," he said, according to CalcioNapoli24.it. "This is absurd considering that without Serie A, the federation would not exist, given that we fund it with 130 million euros a year."
De Laurentiis warned of a potential breakaway, stating the top flight could create its own autonomous league and federation. "It could even happen that Serie A decides it no longer belongs to the federal world and creates its own league and its own federation in-house," he said. He attributed the dysfunction to a lack of clear leadership, saying there were "too many cocks crowing" and that the system needed to be "reset". The 74-year-old also called for Serie A to be given an absolute majority in federal votes.
On the pitch, De Laurentiis expressed satisfaction with Napoli's season, despite their failure to defend the Scudetto. He praised the team's ability to secure a second-place finish in Serie A, especially in the absence of star striker Victor Osimhen for parts of the season. "We were extremely galvanised," he said of their strong finish. "It was also useful to show that the others are extraordinarily committed and can deliver results."
