De Laurentiis hails US World Cup, warns Europa of old‑school view

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis told Rai Due’s Paradise programme that the World Cup (Mondiali) in America exceeded his expectations, describing the Los Angeles stadium as a $6 billion marvel and calling the tournament a “great success”. He warned Europa of an “old‑school” outlook and praised Malagò as the right man.

European football under an old‑school lens

De Laurentiis compared European football to a nineteenth‑century vision, saying the continent remains “almost Victorian”. He cited basketball’s pause and resurgence as a model, noting thirty companies in the sport, the smallest worth $3.5 billion and the largest nearly $12 billion, operate as true industries. Il commentary highlighted his belief that football in Europe lacks the willingness to see the future. He noted that Napoli’s own experience reflects this shift.

De Laurentiis declared that “Malagò is the right person in the right place”, describing him as a born entrepreneur and fantastic aggregator. He added that Malagò can create an engaging social concept, essential for a country he called “young” rather than ancient. The remarks appeared in the Stampa A− A+ section of the newspaper.

When asked about hosting future World Cups in Italy, De Laurentiis imagined an “America’s Cup” style event, saying Italy would welcome it. He concluded that Italy, unlike a divided nation, is a unique whole that can move beyond “a bit of tarantella”.