Aurelio De Laurentiis on Gerry Cardinale and Italian Football: A Critical Perspective

Aurelio De Laurentiis, President of Napoli, recounted an interaction with Gerry Cardinale, the owner of AC Milan. Three years prior, De Laurentiis invited Cardinale to dinner, where he recalls Cardinale presenting views that seemed completely unfounded from his perspective. "I invited Gerry Cardinale to dinner three years ago, he gave me a speech I didn't object to, otherwise I would have had to take him and throw him out," De Laurentiis stated. "He told me things that made no sense from my point of view."

De Laurentiis, speaking at the Foreign Press Association in Rome after receiving a Career Sports Award, commented on the entrepreneurial landscape of Serie A. Foreign ownership now accounts for 60% of the league, encompassing 12 out of 20 clubs. He specifically addressed Cardinale, who became the Rossoneri's owner in 2022. This season, Milan faces the challenge of rebuilding after several difficult years, with the RedBird Capital founder initiating significant changes. However, after five league matches and the first Europa League fixture, these efforts have yet to fully reignite fan ambitions.

"Cardinale is an owner with financial needs, not a true entrepreneur," De Laurentiis remarked. "There's an entrepreneurial concept not everyone respects. Cardinale and the funds invested money to yield returns for their investors. If they haven't seen a profit after a while, what benefit have they provided? None."

De Laurentiis: "Some Entrepreneurs Don't Engage with the League"

He continued, "I'm passionate by nature. If I do something, it's because I enjoy it. Some play golf, some play tennis; I'm fixated on my profession. It might worry my wife, but that's how I am, and I can't change. The point is, when you join the League, you must overhaul what isn't working if you want to be a business owner."

"In Italy, please, you mustn't touch anything. There are laws dating back to the 1800s, and when you read them, or when you see they've been modified, it's hard to understand. It's difficult to change the mentality of those involved in football. People talk about funds, but there are entrepreneurs who are not present. I, with great humility, knowing nothing about football and unfamiliar with the environment, attended all the League assemblies."

"I invited Gerry Cardinale to dinner three years ago, he gave me a speech I didn't object to, otherwise I would have had to take him and throw him out," said Aurelio De Laurentiis. "He told me things that made no sense from my point of view." These were the words of Aurelio De Laurentiis, speaking from the Foreign Press Association headquarters in Rome, where he received the Career Sports Award on Wednesday, September 23rd. The Napoli patron addressed the Serie A business landscape, where foreign ownership accounts for 60% of the total, representing 12 clubs out of 20. The number one figure at Napoli also spoke about his Milan counterpart, Gerry Cardinale. Since 2022, Cardinale has owned the Rossoneri, who are tasked this season with rising from the ashes of recent disastrous years. The founder of RedBird Capital has responded with an almost complete clear-out and a revolutionary plan that, five league games and one Europa League fixture into the season, struggles to revive the fans' ambitions. De Laurentiis stated: "Cardinale is an owner with financial needs, not a true entrepreneur. There's an entrepreneurial concept not everyone respects; Cardinale and the funds invested money to yield returns for their investors. If they haven't seen a profit after a while, what benefit have they provided? None."

De Laurentiis: 'There are entrepreneurs who don't attend League meetings'

He added: "I'm passionate by nature; if I do something, it's because I enjoy it. Some play golf, some play tennis; I'm fixated on my profession. It might worry my wife, but that's how I am, and I can't change. The point is this: when you join the League, whatever kind of entrepreneurial statement you want to make, if you want to do business, you must overhaul what isn't working."

"In Italy, please, you mustn't touch anything. There are laws dating back to the 1800s, and when you read them, and see they've been modified, it's hard to understand. It's difficult to change the mentality of those involved in football. People talk about funds, but there are entrepreneurs who are not present. I, with great humility, knowing nothing about football and unfamiliar with the environment, attended all the League assemblies."