Marcello Altamura, a journalist for Cronache di Napoli, spoke at “1 Football Club”, a radio program hosted by Luca Cerchione on 1 Station Radio. Below is an excerpt from the interview.
There was an event, held on the MSC, which you attended, dedicated to Diego Armando Maradona.
“The event was titled ‘Maradona in Naples forty years later’. An event divided into two parts: the first commemorating the marathon negotiations, the first soap opera-negotiation in the history of football whose protagonists were Ferlaino, Carmando, Franco Esposito and Gianfranco Coppola; the second part in which we tried to understand how sport can be a driving force for growth and, as it was, for the rebirth of the city. At that time there was Pino Daniele, Ciro Amelio. We reflected on what football can give to this city, which lives on sport, combining its attraction with historical and architectural beauties”
Will Kvaratskhelia remain in Naples?
“I believe that in the end Kvara is destined to stay for another year. It is clear that the renewal process, which will happen and which will mask the increase in salary, will take a little longer. The boy’s entourage has every interest in waiting for the European Championship. In fact, the goal against Portugal played in the player’s favor. A feat against Spain could have the same effect. Napoli is aware of this, but it must be admitted that it got the timing wrong regarding the Georgian winger. He deserved financial recognition even before. The president’s typically cinematic way of thinking is paying the price, as he believes it is necessary to respect long contracts. A belief that, however, is well suited to the world of directors and cinema, less so to that of football”
Is it really possible to resolve the Di Lorenzo issue?
“The captain’s situation is very complex, due to many factors that we are not going to talk about here. Even an environmental issue, which has become serious. Di Lorenzo has a long contract, as reiterated by the president. I wonder how a captain can come back of Napoli, who has declared that he wants to leave despite a long contract. My feeling is that, if the agent brings a reasonable offer, the player is destined to leave. Otherwise, with offers of ten million, Giovanni does not move “
What do you think of Antonio Conte’s words about the need to make Napoli a destination and not a passing team?
“I agree with Conte’s words. I believe that this is the real sore point of De Laurentiis’ management in recent years, in which Napoli won and established itself as a European elite. The fact, therefore, that the players perceive Napoli as a team of Of course, it is not easy for the club’s parameters “Very strong attraction for the players. Just think of Alessandro Buongiorno, who in January didn’t even want to hear about it, while today a meeting with Conte was enough for him.”
Do you know the accreditation criteria that the club used for Conte’s presentation conference? There has been some controversy about this.
“No, and I must confess that some colleagues have asked me the same thing. Starting from the assumption that I believe in free information and its plurality, whereby space must be given to everyone, there is guaranteed freedom for clubs to manage themselves information, and this is inconceivable. This situation should be regulated by binding companies to respect certain rules. Free information is not loved by everyone, and some would like to abolish press conferences, preferring paid one-to-one ones.”
