From Laurentiis to Rudi Garcia: “Don’t worry”

The president and owner of Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiisassured Thursday that he had not considered firing Rudi Garcia and changing coaches during the national team break despite reports appearing in the Italian press.

“After the defeat against Fiorentina (1-3 at home in the eighth round of Serie A), I read everything,” De Laurentiis declared in an hour-long press conference at the Napoli training center.

“If there are mistakes, I am responsible for them, but from there to changing coaches… I told García directly in the eyes: “Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t worry,” continued De Laurentiis.

“Everyone makes mistakes, I hope it won’t happen again,” he warned, before adding: “If that’s the case, you will have our support.”

Napoli, crowned Italian champion last season under the direction of Luciano Spallettioccupy fifth position in the standings, seven points behind leaders Milan, before the championship resumes this Saturday when Rudi Garcia’s team will visit Verona.

Naples have suffered three defeats this season, all of them at the Stadio Diego Maradona: against Lazio (1-2) and Fiorentina (1-3) in Serie A and against Real Madrid in the Champions League (2-3).

The meeting with Conte

During the break of the national team, just after the defeat against Fiorentina, De Laurentiis met with Antonio Conte, has been without a team since he left Tottenham in March, but he has made sure that Naples will not offer him the bench.

“Ever since we met at the same holiday spot in the Maldives a few years ago, we’ve stayed in touch. The rest is just gossip aimed at weakening who is in charge of the team at the moment and it bothers me, said De Laurentiis.

“Changing a coach is always a trauma. Besides, there aren’t many coaches who prefer a 4-3-3 with a high defense,” commented the film’s producer.

Dart in Osimhen

Finally, he confirmed that negotiations with scorer Victor Osimhen for the renewal of his contract, which expires in June 2025, have stalled. “I’m always calm with Víctor, but it always takes two. My mood remained, I don’t know about him. If the handshake leads to a rejection of what was said, there is nothing I can do about it. Remember”.

In this way, De Laurentiis revealed that both reached an agreement but then the player backed out. Osimhen has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks for a clash with Rudi Garcia after he was substituted in the last minutes of the Bologna match (0-0) and later for a Tik Tok video in which Napoli made fun of their missed penalty in said match.

Napoli’s agent threatened legal action, but the club apologized in a statement. An ‘affair’ that has once again fueled rumors of him leaving the club in the coming months as the renewal agreement has been delayed.