De Laurentiis says US fund’s €2.27bn Napoli takeover bid collapsed over payment terms, hints at future sale conditions

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that a proposed full‑ownership bid from American investment group Underdog Global Partners fell apart after the club’s lawyers flagged unacceptable payment structures. The fund had reportedly offered €2.27 billion for 100 % of SSC Napoli, with a portion due at signing and the remainder spread over three years. De Laurentiis said the staggered payment plan and the prospect of his role being reduced to a mere honorary president raised serious red flags.

"They wanted to pay part of the amount immediately and the rest over three years, and my role would shrink to just honorary president," De Laurentiis told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. "I asked for guarantees because I am responsible to the fans – it seemed dangerous to accept those terms."

The club’s legal team had initiated a due‑diligence process to assess Napoli’s value, but the negotiations never progressed beyond the initial proposal. De Laurentiis described the experience as “very strange” and suggested the fund’s inability to provide upfront capital undermined its credibility.

While the deal is now off the table, the president did not rule out a future sale. He indicated a preference for a buyer with local ties, stating, "If I ever decide to sell, I would rather do it to a Neapolitan than to an American."

Industry observers interpret De Laurentiis’s remarks as a strategic move to extract better payment conditions from any potential suitor, rather than simply chasing a higher price. By highlighting the pitfalls of the American offer, he may be setting a benchmark for future negotiations.

The episode underscores the growing interest of foreign investors in Serie A clubs, but also the importance of aligning financial terms with the club’s governance and fan expectations. Napoli’s ownership saga remains unresolved, with the president emphasizing that any sale will be driven by both financial prudence and cultural compatibility.