May 29, (THEWILL) – Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has officially confirmed that Luciano Spalletti, the mastermind behind the club’s triumphant Serie A campaign after 33 years, has expressed his desire for a sabbatical year.
Spalletti, who still has one year remaining on his current managerial contract, approached De Laurentiis with his request to step away from coaching at the end of the current season. Recognising the significance of the achievement, De Laurentiis respected Spalletti’s decision, stating that he could not stand in the way of the former Inter boss.
In a press conference, De Laurentiis expressed his support for Spalletti, saying: “When someone comes to you and says that he has given his all and a chapter in his life has concluded… He told me that he would prefer to have a sabbatical year. What do you do then? Do you oppose it? He has given me so much, and I am grateful. Now, it is only fair that he continues to pursue what he loves.”
The decision to take a sabbatical appears to be tied to a contractual clause that prohibits Spalletti from managing any other team next season. With Spalletti’s departure confirmed, Napoli now face the challenging task of finding a suitable successor. Reports from Italy suggest that the club is considering notable names such as Antonio Conte, Rafa Benitez, Jurgen Klopp, and Roberto De Zerbi.
This will only add more weight to the stories around Victor Osimhen’s departure from the Scudetto winners with sightings of the Nigerian in Germany already setting tongues wagging.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
