Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis has announced that he will be sueing the Italian area of Campania for £100 million.
Laurentiis announced these ambitious plans after new signing, Gonzalo Higuain, slipped on rocks in Capri whilst on holiday. The Argentine forward is expected to be out for several weeks as he recovers from the cuts on his face which required stitches.
“I have not met with Higuain,” Laurentiis told reporters. “But I want to see this cut to see if I can sue the region of Campania and Capri. An actor, a footballer, and ordinary person – when they go to hospital they must be looked after well. I saw a picture of the wound and I am willing to ask my lawyers to ask for €100m in damage – a figure that I will donate to charity.” (Source: The Mirror)
The Italian is no stranger to adversity and is famous for his various rants. The retired actor appeared in football 7 years ago. He is not shy to share his personal opinion however controversial. Here are 5 of his best quotes…
“The English live badly, eat badly and their women do not wash.” (Source: The Telegraph)
This was the Italian’s reply to a reporter who suggested that Napoli’s star players, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi were on their way to the Premier League. The crude warning certainly influenced the two players. Lavezzi signed for Paris Saint-Germain and Hamsik has stayed at the Italian club.
“I won’t beat you up because you’re an old man.” (Source: The Guardian)
Following a 2-2 draw with Lazio, de Laurentiis had a falling out with Napoli coach Edy Reja. Sources close to the San Paolo Stadium suggest there was a heated exchange in the dressing room. De Laurentiis pulled his punches but fired him the next day.
“If Mazzoni starts being stupid then i will chop his balls off.” (Source: Goal.com)
As transfer rumours circled around Ezequiel Lavezzi and other key members of the Napoli squad, the owner responded brutally with Lavezzi’s agent Alejandro Mazzoni in the firing line.
“Messi is a cretin.” (Source: Goal.com)
The Italian film guru questioned Messi’s decision to travel to the 2011 Copa America. “Messi is a cretin who accepted to go there. If I was Messi I would have said ‘I won’t come to show myself up in front of four idiots who have no clue on how to play me’.”
“I will quit football. You lot are all sh*t.” (Source: Kick-Off)
This was a dig at the fixture planners. De Laurentiis had been hoping for a forgiving schedule to fit in with their Champions League commitments. Unfortunately for De Laurentiis and Napoli, they had to face AC Milan a mere three days before the Champions League group stage got underway.
“I will go back to making films. It’s a disgrace everything is fixed and I am ashamed to be an Italian.” (Source: Goal.com)
He is also famous for his strange player unveilings. Gokhan Inler, signed in 2011, was introduced wearing a lion mask.
Napoli will be hoping their President will focus on getting a good team together for the new season. The I ciucciarelli (Little Donkeys) already signed Dries Mertens, Jose Callejon, Raul Albiol, Pepe Reina, Higuain and Duvan Zapata.
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