Napoli owner and president Aurelio de Laurentiis says the Italian club will avoid signing any more African players unless they agree not to play in the Africa Cup of Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly – now at Premier League side Chelsea – and Cameroon midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa missed six Napoli games while on international duty at this year’s tournament, which took place in January and February.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n “Enough of African players, or they should give up playing in the African Cup of Nations. I won’t be buying them any more for this reason,” De Laurentiis told a Wall Street Italia show.<\/span><\/p>\n Koulibaly and Zambo Anguissa missed Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Juventus in early January and the Coppa Italia defeat by Fiorentina, but the club then managed four league wins in their absence.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Senegal won the Nations Cup for the first time, to spark wild celebrations back home, while host nation Cameroon finished third. <\/span><\/p>\n The timing of the Nations Cup – traditionally played in January and February – has led to <\/span>repeated disputes with European clubs<\/span><\/a> who are forced to release players in the middle of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said this year’s tournament in Cameroon <\/span>was “disrespected” by some negative media coverage<\/span><\/a> in the build-up.<\/span><\/p>\n Napoli’s only two Serie A titles came in 1987 and 1990 with a side inspired by Argentina great Diego Maradona, and De Laurentiis is taking a strong stance with his players in his quest to bring success back to Naples.<\/span><\/p>\n “We pay the salaries to send them around to play elsewhere in the middle of the league championship,” the 73-year-old added.<\/span><\/p>\n “Or they sign a waiver that for Afcon and the championships in South America [the Copa America], I cannot make them available to participate.”<\/span><\/p>\n The current rules of world governing body Fifa stipulate that players must be released for the Nations Cup despite its mid-season timing in Europe. <\/span><\/p>\n The next edition of the Nations Cup will be held in January and February 2024 in Ivory Coast, having been <\/span>moved from its initial dates of June-July 2023 because of weather concerns.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The 2021 tournament was initially due to be staged in June and July last year, but similar concerns in Cameroon meant it was played at the start of this year.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the departure of Senegal captain Koulibaly to the Premier League, Napoli still have three Africans on their books – having completed <\/span>a permanent deal for Zambo Anguissa<\/span><\/a> from Fulham in May.<\/span><\/p>\n But the club’s biggest star and record signing is fast-rising Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, who missed the continental showpiece in Cameroon <\/span>because of injury.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The 23-year-old is the subject of transfer interest from top Premier League clubs but the Super Eagle insists he loves life in southern Italy, downplaying a pre-season spat with coach Luciano Spalletti as “nothing serious” on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n Injury may have limited Adam Ounas to 21 appearances and two goals in all competitions last season, but the Algeria international has a contract with Napoli until the end of June 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, a vocal De Laurentiis has criticised the fact that clubs were agreeing to more and more European games, with the Champions League starting <\/span>an expanded format from 2024-25.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n That comes despite the fact the European Club Association (ECA) has often expressed its “deep concerns” regarding player welfare and <\/span>criticised a revamped calendar<\/span><\/a> suggested by Fifa.<\/span><\/p>\n De Laurentiis has suggested a European tournament with the top clubs from the strongest five countries instead of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.<\/span><\/p>\n “The world of football cannot self-manage because we do the puppet show for others,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n The Italian film producer also said he did not support the <\/span>breakaway European Super League,<\/span><\/a> which folded less than 48 hours after it was announced last year, as it was an elite club.<\/span><\/p>\n “You cannot create a super club of privileged members who invite others [to the league]. You need to democratically keep the door open for everyone,” he added.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2016, De Laurentiis declared that <\/span>agents were a “cancer”<\/span><\/a> on the game and insisted players did not need them.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nNapoli’s African trio<\/h3>\n
‘Clubs agreeing to too many games’<\/h3>\n
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