Aurelio De Laurentiis Critiques Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Aurelio De Laurentiis, the owner of Napoli, has strongly criticized the club’s home ground, the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, labeling it as “a dump” that requires immediate replacement. Speaking at the Football Business Forum in Milan, De Laurentiis voiced his frustration over the outdated facility, emphasizing the need for Naples’ local government to support his initiative for constructing a new stadium. This would help increase revenue streams for Napoli and allow the club to better compete with its financial heavyweights in northern Italy and across Europe, such as AC Milan and Inter Milan, both of whom can earn upwards of €14 million ($16 million) from Champions League matches.
Financial Disparities and Stadium Limitations
In stark contrast, De Laurentiis lamented that Napoli’s earnings from the aging Maradona Stadium barely reach three million euros.
“It’s quite a difference, isn’t it?”
he noted. The president pointed out that while Paris Saint-Germain pays the same rent as Napoli for their stadium, they enjoy full exclusivity and generate remarkable revenues, approximately 100 million euros per year. He underlined that Napoli can only access their venue for three days—before, during, and after matches—further limiting their earning potential.
Antiquated Features and Future Plans
Describing the stadium as antiquated, he mentioned its features, including an athletics track and a moat that pushes spectators further away from the action. Meanwhile, plans are already underway for Milan and Inter, who have agreed to buy the San Siro for €197 million ($226 million) from the city, to demolish the existing structure and erect a modern facility in its place.
Call for Support and Club Performance
De Laurentiis, who has proposed financing a new 70,000-seat stadium for Napoli, expressed frustration towards local authorities, saying,
“They are football’s biggest enemies”
and highlighted that the sport is significant for an estimated 25 million potential voters. He advocates for more flexible policies that would allow clubs to develop or modify stadiums in conjunction with integrated housing projects, enabling them to create sustained revenue sources.
Currently, Napoli sits atop the Serie A standings, just one point ahead of their closest rivals, including Inter Milan and Roma, as they approach an upcoming match against Bologna. Meanwhile, Bologna, positioned sixth with four points less than Napoli, shared a recent draw of 0-0 in their last outing against Brann in the Europa League. They are expected to welcome back winger Riccardo Orsolini but have uncertainties regarding the fitness of Jens Odgaard and Juan Miranda, while Napoli continues to cope without key players such as Alex Meret, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku.
