Rizzetta says he is ready to buy Napoli if De Laurentiis sells

The Napoli Basket president says American funds are in place and wants the city's clubs under one multi-sport brand. Whether anything happens is up to Aurelio De Laurentiis, who has said the club is not for sale.

by Rosaria CimminoMonday 2 November, 15:04 CET· 21 hours ago

Rizzetta rilancia da Napoli Basket: «Pronti se De Laurentiis cede», ma la palla resta al presidente — Grafica Arena Napoli

Matt Rizzetta has spoken again, and his message is simple: if Aurelio De Laurentiis decides to sell Napoli, he is ready.

The Italian-American businessman, president of Napoli Basket, says he would not be buying in a personal capacity. An investment fund would lead the deal, with backing from several major American funds that are interested. So he says the money is there. He also admits the rest depends on whether the president wants to sell.

His plan goes beyond football. "We have Napoli Basketball and our vision is to create a wonderful multi-sport organisation, taking Naples to a high level of world sport, united under a single brand," Rizzetta says.

He adds that agreements have already been reached with other major clubs in the city, volleyball among them, and will be announced soon. The idea is clear: Napoli as the biggest piece of a larger sporting group.

A story that keeps changing shape

None of this is entirely new, and that is the point. In recent days there was talk of a raised bid of €1.5-1.6bn, after a first offer of €1.3bn. As of Monday 2 November, though, no new offer has been formally made.

According to reports, Rizzetta has also floated a plan B: buy Juve Stabia or Real Aversa 1925 and rename the club after a defunct Neapolitan side. That would mean a 2027 deadline to get a deal done, with an alternative ready if De Laurentiis does not sell.

Meanwhile the club has said nothing about the fund. On 22 and 23 October a report claimed Napoli were for sale for €2bn, and the president's answer was blunt: "Napoli is not for sale."

"Napoli is not for sale."

Then came two meetings in Geneva with Gianluigi and Diego Aponte, which were read in opposite ways. On Monday 2 November De Laurentiis was still in Geneva, and he will also miss the trip to Porto. Anyone talking about buyers right now is talking to a president who is not in the stands.

The silence is the problem

Our view is not a comfortable one. A supporter who, after the 2-0 in Torino, sees Napoli eighth on 14 points while Lazio sit on 28 has every right to ask what is really going on above the team.

Every week brings a new name, a new figure, a new plan B. Nobody takes responsibility for saying how things stand. The club's silence carries as much weight as Rizzetta's words, and it feeds everything else.

One word would have been enough: a yes or a no to settle the matter. Until then, the football is what counts. On Wednesday 4 November Napoli play Porto in the Champions League at 21:00 CET (20:00 UK, 15:00 ET). They are 22nd in the table on 3 points, and for now the answer that matters has to come from the team.