Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has launched a blistering attack on football's governing bodies, accusing FIFA and UEFA of dishonesty regarding their financial distributions. The outspoken Partenopei chief also called for a complete revolution of the game’s laws to win back younger audiences.
Alessandro Bastoni is reportedly cooling on the idea of a summer move to Barcelona as he focuses on securing another Serie A title with Inter. Despite a barrage of reports in both the Italian and Spanish media suggesting a deal is close, the defender’s heart remains firmly in Milan.
Napoli have identified Benfica midfielder Richard Rios as their top target for the summer transfer window and have already opened talks over a potential €30 million move. Sporting director Giovanni Manna is leading negotiations as the Serie A side attempt to strengthen their midfield ahead of next season.
On the evening of February 28 in Verona, Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to score a 96th-minute winner for Napoli against Verona with a close-range left-footed finish. It was by no means a beautiful goal - goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo had got a hand on the ball - but it was easily one of the most significant strikes of Lukaku's entire career.
Former Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has opened up about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-profile move to Turin, admitting that the forward's incredible efficiency created an unexpected "problem" within the squad. While the Portuguese superstar was signed to deliver Champions League glory, his arrival predated a period of significant financial and institutional instability for the Bianconeri.