De Laurentiis open to releasing Conte for Italy job, issues Serie A warning
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has stated he would not stand in the way of coach Antonio Conte should the Italian national team come calling. Speaking in Los Angeles, De Laurentiis indicated a willingness to grant Conte an exit from his Napoli contract to lead the Azzurri, though he expressed doubts about the current state of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
De Laurentiis made the comments during an interview with CalcioNapoli24.it, suggesting Conte himself would be hesitant to take on a role he perceives as disorganized. "If Antonio asked me, I think I would say yes," De Laurentiis stated. "But since he is very intelligent, as long as there is no serious interlocutor—and so far there hasn't been—I believe he would refrain from imagining himself at the helm of something completely disorganized."
The Napoli owner also backed Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, as the ideal candidate to lead a reformed federation after the departure of current FIGC president Gabriele Gravina. This endorsement, however, is contingent on significant structural change within Italian football's governing body.
De Laurentiis used the platform to launch a stark warning about the balance of power within the FIGC. He argued that Serie A, which he claims provides 130 million euros annually to federation coffers, is unfairly marginalized with only an 18% voting share, while amateur football holds the majority. "This is an absurdity," he said, "considering that without Serie A the federation would not exist."
The outspoken president raised the possibility of a breakaway, suggesting Serie A clubs could consider forming their own autonomous league and federation if their influence is not increased. "Everything is possible," De Laurentiis warned. "There are too many roosters crowing in football. We need to agree with UEFA, with FIFA, and then with Italian politics, which however is very distant from football."
He criticized the broader ecosystem for demanding favors and tickets while failing to contribute positive change. The comments underscore the growing tension between Italy's top clubs and the federation, a conflict that has simmered for years over financial distribution and governance.
On a lighter note, De Laurentiis briefly touched on Napoli's recent 2-1 victory over AC Milan, which secured second place in Serie A. He praised the team's galvanized spirit and highlighted the squad's depth, noting the ability of other players to step up in the absence of key forward Jesper Hojlund, who was unavailable for the match.
The immediate implication of De Laurentiis's openness is that a significant contractual obstacle for Conte's potential appointment as Italy coach may be removed. However, his broader critique signals a period of potential upheaval, as Serie A's powerful club owners demand a greater say in the future of the Italian game, with the threat of a seismic split remaining on the horizon.
