Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is reportedly considering Stefano Pioli as a candidate to replace Walter Mazzarri as the club’s manager in the summer. Pioli’s future at Milan has come under question a number of times this season, with the Rossoneri out of the Champions League before the start of the year and lagging in third in the Serie A standings.
Il Mattino report this morning that despite having a contract until June 2025, Pioli is expected to be replaced in June, with Antonio Conte and Thiago Motta the most likely candidates to take over the Rossoneri.
The newspaper suggests that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is a fan of Pioli and his track record of success during his tenure at Milan.
While Pioli emerges as a favorable option for Napoli, alternatives such as Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini and Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano are also being considered. De Laurentiis, however, is not in a hurry to finalize any decisions, particularly in light of past managerial missteps, including the Rudi Garcia incident.
One potential hurdle in securing Pioli’s services is his salary demands, which exceed Napoli’s usual wage structure. Currently earning around €4 million net per season at Milan, Pioli’s compensation surpasses the salaries of previous Napoli coaches, including Luciano Spalletti and Rudi Garcia.
