De Laurentiis insists Allegri stays, denies contact with rivals

De Laurentiis has closed the door on any coaching change. The rumours of a possible Allegri exit that circulated in recent days are dismissed categorically: his contract remains the one signed in the summer, and the president says he is still convinced by the choice he made.

On Napoli's side, no talks have opened with any coach in recent weeks. The club has chosen stability over hasty solutions dictated by a difficult start to the season, and intends to press on with the project built around Allegri.

This comes with Napoli 10th in the table on 6 points from 4 games, fresh from a 1-0 win over Bologna but still short of the targets set out at the start of the season. Part of the fanbase is calling for patience; another part keeps questioning whether Allegri's grip on the job can hold — a debate that has not let up this week.

Like any coach, Allegri remains subject to judgement on results. But for now, the situation is considered under control: there is no intention of looking for alternatives in the short term, at least while performances hold up.

There is a paradox to the day: a club restating full trust in its coach, and a former Serie A coach signing for a different bench at the very moment he was spotted in the stands at Fuorigrotta (the Naples district that is home to the Maradona). The declaration of confidence does not erase the questions still open on the pitch — questions tied to results, not to transfer talk.

The next test comes on Sunday 20 September at 12:30 CET (11:30 UK, 06:30 ET), away to Fiorentina at the Franchi. That is where it will be seen whether the trust declared this week is backed up by results.