Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has insisted the Serie A club is not for sale after revealing that he rejected a reported €3.5 billion offer from Middle Eastern investors.
The 77 year old film producer addressed renewed takeover speculation following a meeting with Italian American businessman Matt Rizzetta in Naples. De Laurentiis said he remains committed to Napoli and has no plans to step away from the club.
Reports in Corriere dello Sport linked the latest meeting to a possible change of ownership. However, De Laurentiis dismissed the rumours during an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss, carried by Sky Sport Italia, on Thursday.
He took control of Napoli on 6 September 2004, when the club faced bankruptcy and competed in Serie C. Since then, he has overseen seven major trophies, including Serie A titles in the 2022 to 2023 and 2024 to 2025 seasons.
Napoli also won the Serie C title in 2005 to 2006, three Coppa Italia trophies in 2012, 2014 and 2020, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2014 and 2025.
De Laurentiis explains why he rejected Napoli takeover
De Laurentiis revealed that potential investors had approached him through Rizzetta, who reportedly represented several investment funds. He said discussions began last year, but the parties never started a formal due diligence process.
“Napoli are not for sale. The Arabs offered me €3.5 billion, but I didn’t want to retire. I still know how to make movies, and football, which I knew nothing about. I learned it despite countless difficulties.
“About a year ago, I received a meeting request from Matt Rizzetta, whom I didn’t know. I replied out of courtesy. He introduced me to a couple of funds he represented that wanted to buy Napoli.
“This happened between February and March last year. We put their lawyers in touch with ours. We wanted to assess the proposal, including who was behind it, though we never actually began a due diligence process.
“They wanted to pay part of the €2 billion upon signing and the rest over the following three years. Initially, I was told I would continue running the club, gradually scaling back my role until I eventually became honorary president. I asked for guarantees that the work we had done over 22 years of running the business would continue. I felt a duty to Napoli fans around the world.
“Money matters, but it comes last. Matt Rizzetta told me he had two or three funds behind him, but the €2 billion would have come in over the years, rather than all at once.”
De Laurentiis had previously addressed the possibility of selling Napoli in May. At the time, he stressed that financial considerations alone would not determine the club’s future.
“The problem isn’t money. It’s whether a successor can lead with heart as well.”
The Napoli president also explained why he remains focused on the club’s long term plans following his latest meeting with Rizzetta in Naples.
“I’m happy to host him. He hosted me in America to watch a basketball game.
“When he brings up selling Napoli, I tell him not to get this soap opera going again. I want to build the stadium, and that will require a huge commitment, physically, too. He probably would have been happy with the Maradona. With a new stadium elsewhere, it would be wonderful to turn the Maradona site into a large park full of greenery.
De Laurentiis comments underline his intention to remain in charge as Napoli consider their future infrastructure plans. Rather than pursue a sale, he wants to focus on a new stadium and protect the progress the club has made during his 22 years at the helm.
