Napoli presented Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe Reina to the fans, but they can’t face Galatasaray because the transfers haven’t come through.
The Partenopei were set to stage a huge celebration this evening at the Stadio San Paolo with cheerleaders, fireworks and music.
Napoli presented Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe Reina to the fans, but they can’t face Galatasaray because the transfers haven’t come through.
The Partenopei were set to stage a huge celebration this evening at the Stadio San Paolo with cheerleaders, fireworks and music.
It was cancelled due to the tragic events in nearby Irpinia, where a bus crashed off a fly-over, killing at least 37 people. The party has been postponed until the next friendly with Benfica on August 9.
New signings Higuain and Reina were presented to the fans, but cannot take part in the friendly with Galatasaray tonight because their international transfers have not come through yet.
The club also presented its strips for 2013-14, including the rumoured camouflage-style third choice shirt, while the second strip is yellow.
“Seeing this stadium tonight, I have a great sense of civility and solidarity,” said President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“We are on track with what we planned, as it is all happening over the course of eight years. Just look at Borussia Dortmund, who after years of construction were able to punish Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup.
“Now we are moving on to the internationalisation of Napoli. In five years the discovery will be the USA and when the stock exchange becomes a factor, we’ll be unstoppable.”
The latest buy is Higuain, who reportedly cost €37m to sign from Real Madrid.
“Higuain is a very sweet guy and I decided to sign him last Monday. We met his father and his brother in a room at the Venice airport and we quickly reached an agreement.
“We then had to get locked into a room with the lawyers at Dimaro, as the rules forbade us from letting him train with the rest of the team. On Saturday morning I broke the deadlock and in the afternoon he became to all effects a Napoli player.”
De Laurentiis believes Higuain can follow in the footsteps of Diego Armando Maradona.
“He is in a city ready to consecrate its idols, unlike Madrid. Here people expect an important result from him.”