Spalletti on Napoli exit: ‘I had my reasons, I forgive, but do not forget’

Luciano Spalletti dropped a few hints as to why he had to leave Napoli after winning the Scudetto. ‘I had my reasons. I love everyone, I forgive everyone, but I do not forget.’

The Italy coach was speaking at the CONI World Meeting on Human Fraternity in Rome when he was asked about his experience at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

He took the club to their first Serie A title in over 30 years, but asked to be released from his contract at the end of the season.

“We had everything that we needed to follow up what we had won,” insisted Spalletti when pushed on their remarkable collapse this term under three different coaches.

“You’d need to be aware of many things. I love everyone, I forgive everyone, but I do not forget.”

Spalletti hints on Napoli exit

There had been reports Spalletti clashed behind the scenes with President Aurelio De Laurentiis, while director of sport Cristiano Giuntoli also walked away straight after the title triumph.

Was he simply concerned Napoli could never follow the heights of that Scudetto run?

“I will not say why I left, but it was not out of fear,” replied Spalletti.

“I had my reasons. The rapport was wonderful at Napoli. We did not win just because of me, but for a city that has extraordinary passion.”

Spalletti had initially asked to take a year out, then had to pay Napoli a penalty fee after deciding to take on the Italy job from September 2023.