Italy: National coach Spalletti threatens punishment to ex-club SSC Napoli

Coach had announced break

Luciano Spalletti’s commitment as coach of the Italian national team is overshadowed by disputes over a contractual clause with SSC Napoli. After the announcement on Friday, the Italian media even saw a legal dispute looming that could end up in court.

The background is that after Napolis’ championship title in Serie A, Spalletti announced that he was leaving the club and taking a break – despite a contract until 2024. Naples club president Aurelio De Laurentiis agreed to a sabbatical. For his part, Spalletti stated that he would not look after any other team in the next season. The exact details of the agreement are not known. However, Italian media unanimously report that a penalty payment should be due for a new coaching job in the 2023/2024 season – according to the reports in the amount of several million euros.

De Laurentiis wrote a few days ago in a statement distributed by Italian media: “When I gave him (Spalletti) the opportunity not to fulfill his contract, I demanded guarantees for the observance of this sabbatical, including a penalty in the event that he not fulfilled its obligation.”

The focus is now on the question of whether the clause also applies in the case of a commitment as a national coach. In the end, it should depend on whether the penalty has to be paid. in one Report by “Sky” reporter Gianluca Di Marzio it was said that a possible legal dispute would only affect the coach himself, but not the association. FIGC President Gabriele Gravina therefore focused on the good news on Friday. “The national team needed a great coach” and he was happy that Spalletti had agreed.

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