Washington – Aurelio De Laurentiis, the king of Neapolitan cinema and football, revealed an explosive backstory at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) evening: fifteen years ago, he attempted to launch three teams in the US – in Las Vegas, Detroit, and Philadelphia – but the MLS model nipped him in the bud.
"Smart for those who invented it, not for those who play it," Napoli's owner cut short during the NIAF/De Laurentiis Film Prize awards ceremony. The problem? No relegation, forced loans of players between clubs, and a $300 million entry fee: "The real competition is in Serie B, not in the MLS, where you lend your talents to others and risk never being relegated."
It's not nostalgia: De Laurentiis, who transformed Napoli with two Scudetti in the last three years, uses the anecdote to take a jab at Italian football. "The time has come for change: the rules of the game and league formats, in Europe and Italy."
These words have a sense of déjà vu: for years, the FIGC president-elect has been pushing for an 18-team Serie A (up from 20), a playoff for the Scudetto, and a reformed European Conference. "Enough with endless calendars and economic disparities," he thundered in past interviews. "The Super League? A dead idea, but we need evolution, not revolution."
In 2025, with the League discussing a new format (more derbies, fewer crazy trips), his proposals—reduced costs, more meritocracy—gained traction, especially after the capital gains scandal that engulfed half of Italian football.
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"I'm bringing Napoli here to inspire," he concluded, "like I did with Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, global talents." But on social media, the reaction was mixed: Napoli fans extolled him ("ADL is a visionary, MLS is pure boredom"), while skeptics accused him of "showman talk."
Experts like sports journalist Paolo Condò comment: "De Laurentiis sees far ahead: MLS is growing (revenues of $1 billion in 2025), but without sporting drama, it remains mere soft entertainment. In Italy, his reforms could save Serie A from decline."
Looking ahead, the message is clear: for De Laurentiis, football isn't a static business, but a living spectacle. From the shelved American dream to the fight for a competitive Italy, the owner remains the party pooper the establishment loves to hate. Next move? Who knows, maybe a film about that "quasi-franchise" in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, in Naples, the Scudetto dreams continue: against Inter on October 25th, at the Maradona stadium, they will need more than a system – they will need genius.
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