While now Europe’s most powerful clubs are looming over Napoli ready to entice their star players with promises of grandeur and success. The team from the peninsula almost ceased to exist, becoming a fond memory in the footnotes of Maradona’s career. Without the guidance of a film producer from the city itself, it could have been one of football’s most tragic stories.
Aurelio De Laurentiis re founded the club as Napoli Soccer after they were declared bankrupt in the august of 2004, subsequently changing it back to Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli in 2006. Although playing in Serie C the following season they still retained a higher average attendance than the majority of Serie A teams. Rather astoundingly, 51,000 supporters watched them in one game.
The fan’s good faith was rewarded as just two seasons on they were back in top tier of Italian football. Five years on the fourth highest supported club in Italy achieved a third place play-off in a season which at one point had the fans dreaming of their first Serie A title since the days of Maradona. Napoli were considered potential league champions as late as the spring, with only a poor run of results towards the back end of the season losing them ground on the race for the Scudetto.
The stable foundations laid by manager Walter Mazzarri have been supplemented with one of the most deadly front lines in world football. The signing of Edinson Cavani has proved a masterstroke, the Uruguayan always promised much in fit’s and start’s at Palermo. It’s undoubtedly in Naples though that he found his calling, netting 26 goals in 35 league games. Flanked by the likes of Hamsik and Lavezzi, the commanding striker has thrived on the considerable service thrown his way.
The biggest problem De Laurentiis faces now, is the question marks surrounding his star players. With the transfer market still yet to fully burst into life, it’s the relative calm before the storm, as the next 5 or so weeks promises to contain some of the most anticipated moves of the summer. One thing that is for sure, is that like Zampirini at Palermo, the Napoli chairman won’t be allowing any of his players to leave on the cheap, he’s been as quoted as saying “We are not a Supermarket. Perhaps you can describe us as fine jewellery store, but people are scared by our prices.” This sentiment has been echoed by De Laurentiis claiming that €100m would be needed to convince him to part with attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik.
De Laurentiis’s ludicrous valuations of his players can only be a positive sign for San Paolo faithful, for a chairman of a team being eyed by Europes top clubs this is perhaps the most effective tactic he can employ to ward off potential suitors. Laurentiis is also keen to build upon the exploits of last season securing Gokhan Inler, adding steel to the Partenopei midfield (showing up in a press conference in a lions mask no less). Along with Uruguayan centre-back Miguel Angel Britos and Argentine winger Alberto Santana, all within the space of 24 hours.
Although the transfer window is far from over, the likes of Cavani has expressed his desire to stay, “I’m very happy with everything that Naples and its people have given me, and that’s why we’ll be there again next year,” he told Fifa.com. Whether Napoli can challenge again next season remains to be seen, the vento del nord (the northern wind) referring to the power and clout of Inter, AC Milan and Juventus, who are all looking to strengthen, as well as a resurgent Roma under Luis Enrique, ensuring that next season could be one of the most exciting in recent years.
History shows us (86-87 & 89-90 scudetto wins) that Napoli have been the only side coming close to challenging the monopoly of the northern sides. The unfashionable team from the southern side of the peninsula is once again mixing it with its northern cousins, the Napoli tale could yet still be in it’s infancy, as exciting times lie in wait.
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