Aurelio De Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, has sworn not to sign any African players for the team unless they consent to forgo competing in the African Cup of Nations.
The 73-year-old claims to ‘love’ the African players for Napoli but regrets having to pay them so much for their extended absences.
‘I told them lads, don’t talk to me about Africans anymore!’ said De Laurentiis during a streamed event.
‘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.’
Last season Napoli lost Kalidou Koulibaly to the AFCON and the centre-back went all the way with Senegal and won the tournament. The 31-year-old has now signed for Chelsea.
Former Fulham man Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa represented Cameroon at the tournament while he was on loan at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Serie A side’s star striker Victor Osimhen did not play for Nigeria at the AFCON earlier this year due to Covid.
