NAPLES – There is a desire for the future. De Laurentiis is in a hurry to define the arrival of the new coach as soon as possible. He wants to start planning the new season immediately. The refoundation he will start from the bench until he arrives on the field with a staff to be redefined. Napoli identified in Gian Piero Gasperini the man of rebirth. De Laurentiis he knows that Atalanta’s season is still to be written, the Europa League final is on Wednesday, for this reason – appreciating his seriousness – he has chosen to respect his deadlines but, having to match their respective needs, wait for a response in the shortest possible time, that is, in a week. In the background, however at the top, remains Antonio Conte, an old favorite of De Laurentiis, already sought in October to replace Garcia. Today the time would be ripe. The president reflects, waits, remains calm: yesterday, on the sidelines of the League Assembly in Rome, he smiled and ignored the reporters who asked him who was in pole position among Gasperini, Conte and Italian for the Napoli bench.
Gasperini in pole position
There is a favourite, his name is Gasperini, but he is also the busiest coach at the moment. The Italian Cup final was dismissed yesterday, on the horizon is the end of the championship, with the objective of qualifying for the next Champions League, and the Europa League final, scheduled for next Wednesday in Dublin against Bayer Leverkusen. Gasperini opened for Napoli and on live TV after the Roma match he confirmed De Laurentiis’ historic esteem for him. In 2011 the Atalanta coach – with whom he has a relationship contract until 2025 – he was Napoli’s coach for a few hours before Mazzarri’s renewal, in 2019 Giuntoli went to visit him in Turin at the end of Ancelotti’s first season. Gasp has confirmed himself at high levels in recent years. De Laurentiis appreciates his football aggressive and offensive, the valorization of young people, the ability to involve the whole squad. The idea of changing the formation, with a three-man defence, wouldn’t be a problem.
De Laurentiis expects responses within a week
Gasperini in the front row, but the name of Antonio Conte also persists, historical friend of De Laurentiis, with whom contacts are frequent and direct. The Napoli president had already thought about him in October to save the season, he offered him 8 million in salary but Conte politely refused, postponing any discussion until the summer. He wanted to enjoy his family and respect his initial choice to stay away for a year; he preferred to participate in the construction of the season and not enter the race. The perspectives today are different. Conte openslast Saturday there was already a meeting with managementthe negotiation would be much more demanding from an economic point of view (especially without participation in the next Champions League) but Napoli remains a solid club and, if necessary, will try to satisfy him. Conte’s request is 8 million, there are two things to do between supply and demand. These are decisive days, De Laurentiis reflects, aware of the coach’s requests: first of all an ambitious project, which the president is designing together with the new manager in pectore of the sports area, Giovanni Manna, waiting to formalize his entry into the club.
Naples, the other alternatives for the bench
Gasperini, Conte or, again, Pegs And Italian: they are there too on the list for the Napoli bench. The former has a one-year contract with Milan but is close to leaving and must free himself; The Italian – tomorrow’s opponent in the championship – is now at the end of his adventure at Fiorentina and is also courted by Bologna. A bench for four. Time is running out. Napoli is in a hurry to move on.
LPS
