Aurelio De Laurentiis rejects multi-billion euro offers for Napoli

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that the football club is not currently for sale, despite receiving significant takeover bids from Middle Eastern and American interests. Speaking on Radio Kiss Kiss, the 77-year-old president revealed that Middle Eastern entities offered approximately 3.5 billion euros to acquire the club.

De Laurentiis also detailed a failed negotiation with American businessman Matt Rizzetta, who represented investment funds interested in a deal worth roughly 2.26 billion euros. The negotiations, which took place between February and March of last year, collapsed due to disagreements over payment structures and De Laurentiis’s future role. The American consortium proposed a deferred payment plan and a transition for De Laurentiis into an honorary chairman position, which he declined.

While not ruling out a future sale, De Laurentiis stated a preference for a local successor over foreign investors. Potential local candidates mentioned in regional reports include Gianluigi Aponte, the founder of MSC, as well as figures from the Grimaldi and Scudieri families. De Laurentiis emphasized his commitment to the club and his desire to oversee the construction of a new stadium.