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Napoli change direction
Monday 13 April, 2009

The Italian Press believe the relationship between Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis and his director of sport Pierpaolo Marino has broken down.

De Laurentiis made a series of comments over the weekend that suggests Marino's influence at the club has significantly diminished.

“We need a playmaker, a defender and a attacker,” De Laurentiis said after Napoli's 0-0 draw with Atalanta on Saturday.

“I would have changed everything after we earned promotion to Serie A, but I followed the advice of people with greater expertise than me,” he added, referring to Marino.

De Laurentiis usually leaves the transfer talk up to Marino, who has brought the likes of Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi to the San Paolo.

Napoli recently issued a statement denying a rift exists between De Laurentiis and Marino, explaining that from now on three people will coordinate the club's transfer strategy.

Those people are believed to be De Laurentiis, Marino and Roberto Donadoni, who recently replaced Edy Reja on the club's bench.

Even if there is no break, the statement confirms that Marino has seen his powerbase greatly curtailed at Napoli.

Marino is considered to be one of the best talent scouts in the game and has been courted by Juventus in the past.


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Pictures: Richiardi (Milan)
& Getty Images (UK)


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