Lawyer puts Napoli sale talks at €2.25bn

Good evening, Napoli supporters, this is Napoli Tonight for Friday 23 October.

Two point two five billion euros. That is the figure Franco Gianni puts on the talks over Napoli. Gianni is the lawyer who represented the company that owns the club in its negotiations with Matt Rizzetta's group. In a radio interview he said the talks lasted several weeks, at a price in line with what Aurelio De Laurentiis had asked. The deal fell apart, he said, because "there was no agreement on the method of payment and the timing of payment." No contract was signed.

That does not fit the other story. Reports in recent days had the consortium valuing the club at one point three billion, with the president holding firm at two. And on the radio De Laurentiis said: "Napoli is not for sale, I turned down three and a half billion." A club that is not for sale does not negotiate for weeks. Supporters are entitled to one version of events. For now there are at least two.

Rizzetta's group has also reopened contacts with a revised proposal, still at one point three billion. It now offers a multi-sport plan for Naples: men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and a rebuilt Mario Argento indoor arena. De Laurentiis also wants to keep a decision-making role under new owners. In our view, that says more than the numbers. Someone who sells but still wants to make the decisions is not handing over a club.

To the football. Rrahmani has a fever and is a doubt for tomorrow. Over recent months Napoli have conceded about point seven goals a game with him on the pitch, and about one point seven without him. The word from the training centre is cautious optimism. If the fever drops, he can train on Saturday. With Buongiorno already missing, Napoli cannot afford to lose the man who organises the defence.

Roma come to the Maradona tomorrow at six o'clock CET, five o'clock in the UK, noon Eastern. They are third on seventeen points, seven ahead of ninth-placed Napoli. It is the second test the club has set for Massimiliano Allegri. The gates open at half past three. Bring ID and a valid ticket. Screenshots will not be accepted.

That's Napoli Tonight for tonight. Every story, in full, at arenarete dot com slash napoli slash e n. Back tomorrow evening at eight o'clock CET.