Aurelio De Laurentiis’ Napoli: Unpredictable Plot Twists Await
In the world of Napoli, the plot twists never seem to stop. The film about Napoli’s first league title in 33 years is currently in post-production, and owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has big plans for its release. He wants to distribute it to cinemas, screen it at the Stadio Maradona, and sell it to a streaming platform. De Laurentiis, a movie mogul himself, is no stranger to success in the entertainment industry. He boasts about his sitcom with Carlo Verdone, which has been number one on Prime Video in Italy for three years. Paramount+ even recently bought the second series.
But the latest plot twist in this Napoli reality show leaked recently. Walter Mazzarri, the current head coach, took training knowing that his players had seen tweets forecasting his imminent dismissal. Camera crews waited outside the gates for Mazzarri, but he refused to say anything other than “ciao ragazzi.” Meanwhile, De Laurentiis was holed up at the Hotel Britannique, finalizing the appointment of yet another coach. It’s Napoli’s third coach of the season.
De Laurentiis is known for his unpredictable decisions, and this time he has ordered a calzone: Francesco Calzona. Calzona, a former assistant of Sarri and Spalletti’s, is familiar with the club and 80% of the players. He has qualified Slovakia for the Euros and will manage both Napoli and Slovakia. The time crunch is real for Calzona, as he has to pack in a training session and prepare for the upcoming game against Barcelona.
Napoli’s season has been far from impressive. They are currently ninth in Serie A and out of the Coppa Italia. Under Mazzarri’s tenure, they fell from fourth to ninth and are 29 points off the pace they set last year. The team is drifting, and Calzona has a tough task ahead to right the ship. He needs to work on closing the nine-point gap between Napoli and a place in next year’s Champions League.
Critics are unsure of what to make of Napoli’s season so far. Is it a farce, a mockumentary, or even a disaster story? De Laurentiis’ decisions have left many scratching their heads. Coaches no longer seem eager to work for him, with Sarri and Spalletti leaving in the past. De Laurentiis himself acknowledges that his character has been called into question, but he insists that he has never betrayed the supporters or the club.
In the end, the season’s outcome remains uncertain. The plot twists keep coming, and De Laurentiis keeps flipping the script. One thing is for sure: Napoli’s story is far from over.