Manfredi: Open to selling Maradona stadium, not full demolition | OneFootball

The mayor of Naples discusses the future of the stadium and the possibility of hosting the 2032 European Championships, reaffirming the desire to enhance the city's sports heritage.

Manfredi on the Maradona Stadium: “Open to selling with a significant offer, but no to total demolition”

In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, addressed key issues related to the future of the Maradona Stadium and the promotion of sports in the city.

“De Laurentiis and Napoli have boosted the city's self-esteem. We will grant him honorary citizenship,” stated Manfredi, emphasizing the club's importance in promoting Naples internationally.

The future of the Maradona Stadium and the 2032 European Championships

Regarding the possibility of the stadium hosting the 2032 European Championships, Manfredi explained: “We are working on a project and seeking the financial resources to make it feasible. If we look at the figures for Milan and Inter for San Siro, we're talking about one billion and 200 million. These are enormous numbers. We are working on our idea and there is continuous dialogue with UEFA and Calcio Napoli for the necessary works. We will seek the best possible solution, evaluating every alternative with great openness.”

On the sale of the stadium

Manfredi also discussed the possibility of selling the facility, taking inspiration from the sale of San Siro: “I believe that selling in exchange for a significant investment in the area is in the order of things. San Siro, like the Maradona, is a symbol of the city. If there were a similar situation in Naples, we would consider it too.”

When directly asked about the sale of the Maradona, the mayor responded: “If there were a significant investment in the stadium, the issue would arise. Obviously, it would be the end of a process of evaluating the facility. We are talking about a public asset, under the administration's control, and in compliance with state regulations. In exchange for the investment, we are willing to consider the sale of the facility. It's a complex administrative process: in Milan, they have been working on it for six years. We are open to any solution.”

Partial demolition, but not total

Finally, Manfredi clarified the position on potential demolition: “You cannot entirely demolish the Maradona, just as you cannot entirely demolish San Siro. A partial demolition can be done to allow for significant improvement.”

The mayor's message is clear: Naples wants to enhance its sports heritage, finding a balance between modernization, private investments, and the preservation of a historic symbol like the Maradona Stadium.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.