Napoli coach, Luciano Spalleti, has joined his boss, Aurelio Di Laurentiis, to criticise the timing of the 2022 African Cup of Nations.
The 2022 AFCON is scheduled to run from January 9 to February 6, 2022 and Napoli will lose top scorer Victor Osimhen and vice- captain Kalidou Kolibaly to Nigeria and Senegal respectively during the African biennial showpiece.
Napoli have established themselves as major contenders for the Serie A title this season, but the team’s president, Di Laurentiis and Spalleti believe losing two key players to the tournament will weaken the club.
“There is an open battle from Di Laurentiis and I’m on his side. He spent money to pay players and he’s right when he says the national team devastates clubs.” Spalleti told the Italian press.
Osimhen once punched the dressing-room wall -Napoli fan
“We have to manage this season, in one way or the other, there are pitfalls. But we are convinced that having made some calculations and having the possibility to intervene, then we can always leave Napoli equipped,” he said.
Osimhen has scored seven goals for Gli Azzurri in the last six matches this season, while Kolibaly is yet to miss a game and scored the winner against Juventus.
Napoli will take their title challenge to Fiorentina this season, where another three points is up for grabs.