Italian prosecutors have called for Serie A club Napoli and its owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, to stand trial over allegations of false accounting related to transfers, including the controversial signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
The prosecutors are investigating Napoli, De Laurentiis, and his key advisor Andrea Chiavelli for suspected falsification of accounts between 2019 and 2021.
The focus of the inquiry is on the high-profile transfer of Osimhen from French club Lille in 2020, which was valued at €70m, and the signing of Kostas Manolas from Roma.
Concerns about the Osimhen deal stem from the transfer’s unusual structure, which saw four players valued at around €20m moving to Lille.
Three of these players never appeared for the French club, raising suspicions of financial manipulation.
In response, Napoli’s lawyers have dismissed the trial request, calling it “incomprehensible.”
They insist that the club acted within legal boundaries, citing opinions from independent consultants who confirmed the legitimacy of their financial dealings.
“Napoli acted legitimately and in compliance with Italian accounting principles,” said Fabio Fulgeri and Lorenzo Contrada, the club’s legal representatives.
Despite these reassurances, the case could proceed to trial, with a judge set to decide whether the allegations warrant a criminal trial.
However, sources close to Napoli claim that previous investigations into the club’s transfers, including a similar probe by the Italian Football Federation, found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Should the case move to trial, it could take years to conclude.
Nonetheless, Napoli remains confident that they will not face any penalties from the FIGC, even if criminal courts find the club guilty of the alleged offenses.
Osimhen’s move to Napoli had been a major highlight for the club, with the Nigerian international playing a pivotal role in their historic Serie A title win in 2023.
However, despite his success, Osimhen recently sought to leave the club and was loaned to Turkish side Galatasaray in September 2024.
The investigation into Napoli comes on the heels of similar cases, most notably Juventus, which was penalised with a 10-point deduction last year for capital gains manipulation involving transfer deals.
As the Italian football scene grapples with these financial controversies, Napoli’s legal battle may add further fuel to an ongoing debate over the transparency of transfer deals in the sport.
