SNC Napoli have made a mixed start to the new season. While Rudi Garcia’s coaching chair is wobbling precariously, the president is already talking to successor candidates.
In Serie A, Napoli are lagging far behind the music. After eight matchdays, the Partenopei are seven points behind leaders Milan and defending the title is already a daunting challenge. With two draws and two defeats to their four wins, the future of coach Rudi Garcia (contract until 2025) is being hotly debated. According to concurring Italian media reports, an immediate dismissal of the Frenchman during the international break is a likely option.
This is also supported by the comments made by President Aurelio De Laurentiis on Tuesday about the head coach, who was only hired in the summer. At a university in Rome, the eccentric 74-year-old did not mince his words as usual: “It’s not a good moment with Rudi Garcia. When you choose a coach who doesn’t know Italian football anymore, it can happen. “
Gacia, successful at AS Roma from 2013 to 2016, had taken up the post in Naples after spells at Marseille, Lyon and Al-Nassr. “I will make the best decision at the right time,” De Laurentiis already announced: “I can’t be influenced by the fans.”
When it came to Luciano Spalletti’s successor, Napoli’s president had examined quite a few candidates, according to his own statement. “I can reveal that I called Luis Enrique in June, but … luckily he wanted to go to Paris Saint-Germain – look at his results at PSG,” De Laurentiis teased during his speech. He had also spoken to Thiago Motta in the same month, “but he didn’t want to replace Spalletti after his results. “
Conte gets “persistent transfer rumours” with
So now De Laurentiis is once again in search of a coach. According to information from the usually well-informed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Napoli president took advantage of Wednesday to have a long conversation with his preferred candidate Antonio Conte. Conte’s reaction was to follow – even publicly.
In his Instagram story, the former successful coach of Juventus Turin announced: “I get the persistent transfer rumours linking me to important clubs. But I stress again at this point that at the moment there is only the desire to continue enjoying time with my family. “
Julen Lopetegui is also considered a candidate, although according to Italian media reports he has offered himself to Napoli through his management. The Spaniard had resigned from Wolverhampton Wanderers before the start of the season after a falling out with the club’s management.
