Aurelio De Laurentiis is an Italian businessman. He is a film producer. He owns the film production company Filmauro. He equally owns SSC Napoli of Italy.
De Laurentiis serves on the board of directors of the National Italian American Foundation. Suffice this to mean he is an international Entrepreneur who is highly connected. He knows his way around things...and of course, you should expect him to be a shrewd businessman.
After Napoli went bankrupt in 2004 and were relegated to the third division of Italian Football, De Laurentiis bought the club with the ambition of bringing them back up the divisions whilst ensuring financial stability.
After two promotions in three years, Napoli were back in Serie A. They spent the first few years in mid-table, and in the 2010–11 season qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Napoli spent the 2010s competing at the top of the table and in European football. The club won the Serie A under his ownership in the 2022–23 Serie.
A season.
So, he is passionate about the club and will do anything to protect the interest, sustenance and wellbeing of the club even if it means at the expense of sacrificing any player or manager.
When I did the piece I titled "WILL ITALIAN CLUBS LOVE NIGERIAN PLAYERS AGAIN?" few days ago some people didn't understand where I was coming from nor the message I was trying to put across. They attacked me as usual. Some rained insults on me!!!
But today, it is clear that indeed there is a tiny line between love and hate. Napoli deliberately knocked off the deal from Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia giving all impression that Chelsea was a sure move for Victor Osimhen.
75-year old De Laurentiis played a card that could best fit into a James Bond 007 thriller or one of the best sellers of James Hardly Chase intelligent investigations. Of course, he is a film maker so he left his ace for the last. He created the needed suspense in the whole transfer drama involving Osimhen.
It went from climax to anti-climax and even returned. It was a well written script by De Laurentiis or his script writing employees. He knew where the movie will end but chose to keep the world in suspense as all stayed glued from day one of the transfer market to the very last second on the final day.
De Laurentiis deliberately pulled attention to Osimhen, Napoli and Italy. He ensured all other transfer matters involving other clubs and players were settled thus, leaving Osimhen and Napoli for the last.
He shoved off PSG's genuine interest with his sublime mafioso move. He must have discussed with persons of his calibre at the Paris club to pour cold water on their interest on Osimhen.
He didn't allow Arsenal to approach him. He purposely attended to PSG to create an impression that Arsenal can't afford the fee of the former. He scared The Gunners away. He kept Chelsea as "place holders" in the eyes of stakeholders but had no intention to allow any move pull through.
He smartly used Romelu Lukaku as a decoy to keep Chelsea talking with him while the clock ticks faster as he plotted successfully to clip the wings of other clubs making last minute moves to grab Osimhen. Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia was one of such clubs. But once others saw the huge interest and offer to the player, they dropped their bids.
But at the 11th hour when it matters most, De Laurentiis served his master stroke. He pulled the trigger. It was a devious shot which left all devastated. He pulled the rug off Osimhen's feet by scuttling the potential move to Stamford Bridge which was his last option after turning Al Ahli away.
Indeed, De Laurentiis through this film which I can confidently tag OSIMHEN TRANSFER SAGA has proven that there is a tiny line between love and hate. De Laurentiis doesn't care nor want to remember that Osimhen's goals won his club the Scudetto after 33 years in the limbo. He just wanted to hit him hard and where it will hurt him most. It was a sucker punch.
He remembered Osimhen's face-off with his coach who ordered him off the pitch. He remembered how Osimhen embarrassed him by deleting all concerning Napoli on his social media accounts while the faceoff over the club's Twitter message against Osimhen lasted. He remembered how he snubbed his teammates when he arrived the club's house in Naples.
He remembered his errors and waited for the last minute when he would have forgotten all that transpired...then, he served him his ace. Such ace can only come from - The Italian Mafia. It can only be an Italian Job. The Mafioso Gang....
Perhaps Osimhen would have exited quietly after winning the Scudetto title two seasons ago. But how and why he chose to stay one more year with a contract extension is part of the script well crafted for this blockbuster of a movie. Indeed it was the Italian Job. De Laurentiis lured Osimhen with beautiful clauses and enticing contract appendages to keep him. But once things fell apart between both men, the Italian did him in.
What does this portend for Nigerian players who will be seeking greener pastures in Italy in future? Well, a big lesson for all here. While the fun, fame and fortune last keep a low head and eye on other options. Don't step on toes. Don't be predictable through your behaviour. Be on the look out because there's no perfect moment when working with, for or under a Mafia Gang.
Some people are very vindictive. They have unforgiven and unrepentant spirit controlling them. We could see the hands and acts of such persons in Osimhen's transfer saga. Now you understand my previous piece!!!
For us in the media, one big lesson in this is transfer matters are all speculative until the buying club unveils a player. We rushed into the cyberspace with reports and shopped photos of Osimhen joining Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia but never knew that the film maker, De Laurentiis was using us as part of his large and loaded casts in this award winning movie.
We were busy with calculators multiplying and adding up the figures of his proposed earnings in Saudi Pro-League with Al Ahli. We were counting our chickens before they're hatched. We were very positive but the film maker was not. He had his master plan even if it was negative...it pleased him. This really hurts this writer sincerely speaking.
De Laurentiis launched his movie same day he served his ace...August 30, 2024. The whole idea is to frustrate Osimhen by keeping him in Naples where his spirit has left. With Antonio Conte declaring that he doesn't need his services coupled with the smooth seal of Lukaku's deal, we can all understand that this is a pure Italian Job.
Beware of the Mafioso controlling the football world. If you know, you know. The days of Silvio Berlusconi and AC Milan reign are still fresh in our minds. Football is not only played on the pitch. The greater part of it is in the boardroom where the dons take the decisions. It's like Chess game. Only the masters understand. Our son was used and dumped when he needed his big break. I'm pained.
© Desmond Ekwueme
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