Aurelio De Laurentiis

Rome prosecutors accuse De Laurentiis of false accounting for financial years 2019, 2020 and 2021, involving allegedly fictitious capital gains in the Kostas Manolas and Victor Osimhen transfers. In November 2025, he was committed for trial; in May 2026, the opening of the trial was postponed until 2 December 2026.

Attribution

Accused

In July 2026, Bari authorities investigated Aurelio and Luigi De Laurentiis on suspicion of false corporate disclosures concerning Bari's 2024 accounts and fraudulent bankruptcy linked to an application to open judicial liquidation proceedings. Searches took place at Bari, Napoli and Filmauro premises; the Procura Federale requested the case documents.

Attribution

Directly implicated

De Laurentiis brought proceedings before an ordinary court in Milan to prevent Ezio Simonelli from serving as president of Lega Serie A without first obtaining the exemption required under the sporting justice system. The Procura Federale initiated disciplinary proceedings.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Directly implicated

Having already restricted interviews with DAZN, De Laurentiis interrupted a live interview with Matteo Politano on Sky, declaring that the player was not permitted to speak to the channel. The confrontation also involved an incident with a cameraman.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Luciano Spalletti's departure from Napoli, the prospect of his appointment as Italy manager triggered a dispute over a release clause valued at approximately €3 million. De Laurentiis maintained that it was a matter of principle and that the clause also covered a national team appointment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

De Laurentiis unexpectedly intervened during a Rudi Garcia press conference and attacked certain journalists, whom he accused of inventing information about the manager's situation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Aurelio De Laurentiis and his son Luigi challenged the FIGC rule eventually prohibiting the same individual or family from controlling multiple professional clubs, a situation affecting Napoli and Bari.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In the first major Italian sporting trial concerning capital gains, federal prosecutors had sought a ban against De Laurentiis. The federal tribunal subsequently acquitted the clubs and executives involved in this part of the case, including Napoli and its president.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

De Laurentiis stated that he no longer wished to recruit African players unless they agreed not to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Confederation of African Football officially condemned the remarks as 'irresponsible and unacceptable' and asked UEFA to examine the matter.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Napoli did not travel to Turin to face Juventus amid Covid-19 cases and local health authority instructions. Sporting authorities initially imposed a 3-0 forfeit defeat and deducted one point from the club.

State of the evidence

Documented

After a series of poor results, Napoli's management imposed a training retreat. The players subsequently refused to return to the training centre after a Champions League match, and De Laurentiis initiated disciplinary proceedings involving substantial fines.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated