Napoli chase global goals: De Laurentiis eyes new stadium, F1 | OneFootball

Aurelio De Laurentiis, speaking at the Gazzetta Sports Awards, outlined a vision that goes beyond the mere sporting development of Napoli. The president of the Azzurri weaves together projects, numbers, and future prospects aiming for a structural and international leap in quality.

Napoli between global ambitions and infrastructural revolution: De Laurentiis bets on the stadium and Formula 1

His analysis is poised to become a true programmatic manifesto, also useful for understanding the economic dynamics that separate Napoli from the major clubs in the North.

A city as a global stage: the idea of Formula 1

De Laurentiis does not limit himself to talking about football. On the contrary, he opens up to unprecedented scenarios for the area: “I want to bring Formula 1 to Naples,” he states, explaining how the city and its metropolitan area offer a unique context for a world event. “It’s a land kissed by the sun, it would be an ideal setting. A track could be designed that reaches Pompeii or Sorrento, even varying the circuit from year to year.”

The key concept, beyond the international image, is that of territorial enhancement: a great itinerant event capable of generating revenue, tourism, and global visibility.

The economic issue: the comparison with Milan

The president immediately emphasizes a crucial theme: the revenue differences compared to the Milanese clubs. “At San Siro, they earn 14 million on big Champions League nights. We earned 1.1 in the last one. Is that acceptable?” he asks bluntly.

According to De Laurentiis, the current facility is a hindrance: “For the administration, it’s offensive if I say the stadium is a dump, but for us, it represents only a cost. We can’t use it for initiatives, events, or daily activities. It only works close to the matches.”

Hence the urgency: “I want to build the stadium quickly, as well as the new sports center. In the next four years, I intend to expand our resources.”

Napoli at the top but realistic: the point on the championship

From the infrastructural plan to the team, the step is short. De Laurentiis appreciates Napoli's performance, currently at the top alongside Milan: “You can’t win every match. Mourinho is not easy to face. Those who criticize him express the usual envy towards winners. In America, they celebrate them, in Europe, they undermine them.”

He also talks about the relationship with Antonio Conte, a bond that dates back a long way: “We met in the Maldives many years ago. I still didn’t grasp football perfectly, he had already won a lot. I was struck by his hunger, never quenched.”

The reading of the two championships: between logic and narrative tension

De Laurentiis reviews Napoli’s two recent triumphs with an almost cinematic perspective: “The first championship was almost written, given the path as protagonists from start to finish. The second, however, was the true championship, won by sweating for every point.”

He compares it to a work with a complex narrative structure: “It was like a thriller, intense and hard-fought. The victory against Cagliari released all the tension. In the end, it seemed like a box office hit.”

And he announces a new celebratory project: “For Napoli’s hundredth anniversary, in 2026, we will make a film dedicated to our history.”

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