Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis announced that Luciano Spalletti would step down at the end of the season. The official motivated the choice of the coach during an interview on RAI’s TV show Che Tempo Che Fa (via Calciomercato).
“He told me that his cycle has ended. He achieved the best he could and asked me for a sabbatical. I will respect his choice despite his contract. He’s a free man, so it’s fair for him to continue doing what he loves. He’s a great person and coach. I can’t stand in his way. I can only thank him and wish him the best.”
De Laurentiis looked back at last summer.
“We bid farewell to many important players, but they had run their course with us in my mind. When the journalists asked me what we wanted to do last June, I replied that we would aim for the Scudetto. Everybody was dismayed, including Spalletti, as he didn’t know whom we had already signed. There are two types of managers: those who want to handle the transfer market and those who coach. He falls in the second category. We gave him extraordinary material, and he molded it.”
Per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli have zeroed in on Luis Enrique. However, the negotiation isn’t easy, and there are ways to go before striking a deal.
Our Take on Spalletti
These statements clear the air a bit, as the boss isn’t resigning for petty reasons or a rift with the owner, but it’s still a shame that they won’t run it back.
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