Napoli president De Laurentiis open to Conte for Italy, calls for Serie A reform
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said he would not stand in the way of Antonio Conte taking the role of Italy's national team head coach. In an interview with CalcioNapoli24.it, the outspoken club owner gave his blessing for the former Tottenham and Inter Milan manager to take the Azzurri job, should the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) make an approach. "If Antonio asked me, I'd say yes," De Laurentiis stated, while also expressing doubts that the current FIGC structure could attract a coach of Conte's calibre.
De Laurentiis, speaking in Los Angeles for the U.S. premiere of the documentary 'AG4IN' about Napoli's Scudetto win, was unequivocal in his support. "If Antonio asked me, I think I would say yes," he stated. However, he expressed skepticism about the current state of the federation, adding that Conte, being "very intelligent," would likely be deterred by the current "completely disorganized" state of the federation until a serious, credible project was presented.
His comments, made to CalcioNapoli24.it, were part of a broader critique of the Italian football system. De Laurentiis launched a scathing attack on the governance of Italian football, arguing that Serie A clubs are not given sufficient power within the FIGC. He argued that Serie A, which he claims funds the federation with 130 million euros annually, holds only 18% of the voting power, while amateur and players' associations hold the majority—a situation he called "absurd."
"We must completely overhaul the system, reset it, and give Serie A an absolute majority," De Laurentiis declared. He warned of a potential breakaway, stating, "Otherwise, it could happen that Serie A decides not to belong to the federation anymore and to create its own league and federation independently. Everything is possible." He criticized the current structure for having "too many roosters crowing," citing a need for clearer agreements with UEFA, FIFA, and the Italian government, which he described as "very distant from football."
On the pitch, De Laurentiis expressed satisfaction with his own club's recent form. He praised the team's resilience in a recent victory over AC Milan, which secured second place, highlighting the performance of the squad's depth after an injury to striker Rasmus Hojlund. "We were extremely galvanized," he said, noting that the performance showed the strength of the entire squad.
Finally, on the subject of the FIGC presidency, De Laurentiis endorsed Giovanni Malagò, the outgoing president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, as the ideal candidate to succeed Gabriele Gravina as FIGC president. "He is the perfect person," De Laurentiis stated, advocating for Malagò to serve first as commissioner and then as president of a renewed federation.
