Napoli are in advanced discussions with Maurizio Sarri regarding a potential return to the club, according to reports in Italy. The Serie A side are prepared to offer the current Lazio manager a contract worth approximately €3.5 million per season, plus bonuses, with an initial two-year deal and an option for a third.
Sarri previously managed Napoli for three seasons, achieving significant success and cultivating a strong relationship with the club’s supporters. During his tenure, Napoli secured 91 points in a single season and played an attractive style of football, earning Sarri the nickname “Il Comandante” – The Commander – from fans. A departure from Lazio appears increasingly likely given recent tensions, paving the way for a potential move back to Naples.
The offer from Napoli includes a base salary of €3.5 million, alongside performance-related bonuses. Sarri is reportedly eager to return to Napoli and the city, and the feeling is mutual among the fanbase, who fondly remember his previous spell despite recent successes under Luciano Spalletti and Antonio Conte. Supporters are keen to see a return to the principles of play implemented during Sarri’s first stint, characterized by bold tactics and fluid movement.
This potential appointment echoes a past managerial change, as Sarri previously replaced Antonio Conte at Chelsea. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is believed to be keen on bringing Sarri back to the club with the aim of securing a trophy – potentially the Serie A title – that eluded him during his first period in charge. Sarri has previously expressed a degree of envy towards Spalletti and Conte for winning the Scudetto with Napoli, and now has a chance to achieve that success himself. He is known for his tactical flexibility and ability to transform players into unexpected roles, a style that Napoli hope will bring renewed success.
Negotiations with Lazio will be the first step, followed by finalizing terms with Napoli. The prospect of Sarri returning to his “home” and implementing his distinctive brand of football has generated considerable excitement in Naples.
