NAPLES, Italy (AP) – Luciano Spalletti confirmed Monday that he will no longer coach Serie A champions Napoli and will not train next season.
“I need to go away for a year. I am somewhat tired and he wants to be with my daughter Matilde,” Spalletti told reporters at a seminar on the transfer market.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis went on Sunday to state public television that Spalletti had requested a sabbatical.
“He is a free man. After 50 years in the film industry when someone comes to you and says: ‘I have given my best, my life has come full circle, I still have a contract with you, but I Prefer to have a gap year.’. What are you doing? Do you stop them?” De Laurentiis reveals. “You have to be generous in life… He has given so much and I thank him. The right thing to do now is to let him do what he wants to do.”
In his second season at Napoli, the 64-year-old helmsman led the southern club to their first Serie A title in 33 years. He won it before five dates.
Spalletti still has one game left for Napoli against Sampdoria on Sunday. After the game, he would receive the champion’s trophy – just the third in the club’s history under Diego Maradona in 1987 and 1990.
Spalletti has become the second manager to leave the team after winning the title in three years. Antonio Conte did something similar with Inter Milan after the 2021 title.
Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli – the man who renewed the squad with the signings of Khvycha Kvartskhelia and Kim Min-jae – also thinks he is leaving and could join Juventus.
Winning Serie A was not a big trophy for Spalletti, who previously led Roma and Inter. He was also champion in the Russian league with Zenit de San Petersburg.
Spalletti said, “Sometimes you have to walk away from someone you love. A city like Naples deserves much more than the ideal… You have to ask yourself whether you have the potential or not.” matter, I prefer to take steps.” one side.
Luis Enrique, the former coach of Barcelona, ​​Roma and the Spanish team, appears as a possible replacement. Former Napoli coach Rafael Benitez also makes a pitch.
