Napoli president De Laurentiis slams own stadium: ‘The Maradona is a s***hole’ | OneFootball

Aurelio De Laurentiis launched a furious attack on the state of Napoli’s home stadium, describing the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as “a sh*thole” during his speech at the Football Business Forum organised by SDA Bocconi in Milan.

The Napoli president pulled no punches as he discussed the urgent need for infrastructural reform in Italian football, comparing his club’s outdated venue with modern European arenas.

“The Maradona is a sh*thole,” De Laurentiis said, with quotes via CalcioMercato.

“I said the same thing when Ancelotti arrived. PSG pay the same rent for their stadium as we do, but they have full exclusivity and make €100 million a year, while we only have access for three days: before, during and after the match. It’s an old stadium, with an athletics track and even a moat that pushes fans further away.”

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 26: Aurelio De Laurentiis, President of SSC Napoli, celebrates the victory of Serie A TIM during the SSC Napoli Trophy Parade on May 26, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

De Laurentiis blamed Italian bureaucracy for holding back progress:

“Authorities here are football’s biggest enemies. They don’t realise there are 25 million potential voters who care about this sport.”

Napoli president De Laurentiis lashes out at authorities

He held up the Emirates Stadium as an example of success, noting how Arsenal were allowed to build housing nearby to offset construction costs.

“We need more flexibility,” he continued. “Let clubs build or convert stadiums with integrated housing projects. Those revenues can sustain long-term investment.”

The Napoli owner also criticised local officials for “wasting money” on past renovations and said he would personally finance a modern 70,000-seat arena with “100 skyboxes and real parking spaces.”

Aurelio De Laurentiis unveiling new Napoli manager Antonio Conte

“Fans want to drive to the stadium. We need 30 hectares for a real modern venue,” he added, blasting Mayor Manfredi and Councillor Cosenza for “knowing nothing about football.”

Finally, De Laurentiis attacked what he called the “lack of leadership” in Italian football and warned UEFA and FIFA to stop diminishing domestic leagues.

“If we’re left with only Inter, Milan, Juve, Napoli and Roma, why build new stadiums? We’d just end up playing a European Super League by another name.”