Audio By Carbonatix
Aurelio De Laurentiis, the president of Serie A team Napoli, has disclosed his side will not sign African players unless they meet the requirements of his side.
Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Andre Zambo Anguissa of Cameroon both presently call Napoli their home. Another African player at Napoli was the Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who departed this summer to join Chelsea.
De Laurentiis asserts that the club won't be looking for African players until they sign a document agreeing to boycott the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I told them lads, don’t talk to me about Africans anymore!” said De Laurentiis during a streamed event as quoted by Football Italia.
“I love them, but either they sign something confirming they’ll back out of playing the Africa Cup of Nations, or otherwise between that tournament, the World Cup qualifiers in South America, these players are never available!
“We are the idiots who pay salaries only to send them all over the world playing for others.”
Napoli lost Anguissa and Koulibaly when the last Afcon was held in Cameroon and they competed for their countries. With the Lions of Teranga overcoming Egypt on penalties in the final, Koulibaly went on to win the trophy for the first time ever with Senegal.
Latest Stories
-
Beyond State Funding: NSA Inaugurates Deen-led team to power Ghana’s sports reset
2 minutes -
Jason Arday death ‘tragedy on so many levels’ says PM Burnham
2 minutes -
NPP has never used nolle prosequi to shield appointees – Baffour Awuah
7 minutes -
A-G owes it a duty to the State even if we don’t trust him – Dr Bomfeh on AKSA bribery probe
24 minutes -
A Plus dismisses claims poor English explains his limited role in Parliament
33 minutes -
Unauthorised drone flights banned at Manhyia Palace
1 hour -
Aksa bribery scandal: Ghana’s probe must be pursued with speed – Dafeamekpor
1 hour -
Samson’s Take: When religion threatens peace, sanity must prevail
2 hours -
Friendship: Why time matters less than continuity
2 hours -
Africa’s AI moment: They say data is the new gold. But who is drilling it?
2 hours -
Ghana delivers strong performance in retail market in half-year; value up 15.6% – Maverick Research
2 hours -
The world’s oldest president left for a ‘brief stay’ in Europe. He hasn’t returned in two months
2 hours -
Parliamentary committee commends GIPA’s investment drive, backs key reforms
2 hours -
Livestream: Newsfile discusses AKSA energy deal, legal vacation and GoldBod losses
3 hours -
Jason Arday: 10 things you may not know about British-born Ghanaian former Cambridge professor found dead at 41
5 hours