Naples, De Laurentiis' revolution: a new sports center in Qualiano, farewell to the Maradona.

Rome – Aurelio De Laurentiis has launched a challenge and redefines Napoli's infrastructure. Speaking at the Foreign Press Association headquarters in Rome to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Napoli patron decisively outlined the club's long-term future, announcing his departure from the historic Castel Volturno stadium and his concrete intention to abandon the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

The new blue house in Qualiano

The logistical breakthrough concerns the team's training facility. The club has identified the municipality of Qualiano, in the Naples hinterland, as its new sports hub. "We've found 17 hectares where we'll build 10 soccer fields, as well as 7.500 square meters of offices and locker rooms for the first team and all the youth teams," the president explained. This is a significant investment intended to unite the entire Italian soccer movement under a single center of excellence.

The project for the stadium in East Naples

His stance on the stadium is even more radical. De Laurentiis confirmed his intention to abandon the Fuorigrotta stadium and move to the eastern outskirts of the city, in the area formerly occupied by refineries. "I signed a letter of intent with Q8 a month ago: in East Naples, I've designed a 70-seat stadium with 120 Skyboxes, complemented by an interactive museum. It would take me 24 months, and I'm not asking anyone for money."

The dig at the Municipality about Maradona

The president didn't hold back on the municipal management of the Fuorigrotta stadium, rejecting plans for its renovation. "The Maradona should be demolished to build new housing for the city. The municipality would like to invest €200 million to modernize it, but with that amount, they'll only be giving the facility a little slack."

De Laurentiis finally questioned the running costs: "It's ridiculous to say we pay 900 euros a year: overall, we shell out over 2 million for the Maradona, and we only use it on match days, with the obligation to return it clean immediately."