Marotta Vs De Laurentiis – Another Time-Tested Battle At The Heart Of Inter Milan Vs Napoli Serie A Title Race | OneFootball

The time-tested battle between Beppe Marotta and Aurelio De Laurentiis is at the heart of the title race between Inter Milan and Napoli.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Beppe Marotta is the President of Inter Milan.

The veteran Italian football executive took on his role one year ago. He replaced Steven Zhang as the Nerazzurri President following the takeover of the club by Oaktree Capital.

Marotta had been Inter’s CEO of Sport for more than five years before then. He still also holds that position.

Marotta brought plenty of silverware to the Nerazzurri in that role. Including the Serie A title on two occasions.

However, the 67-year-old has yet to win a Serie A title as President of Inter.

Marotta Vs De Laurentiis At The Heart Of Inter Vs Napoli Title Race

Italian film producer and President of the Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis is interviewed prior the UEFA Champions League group F football match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples on December 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)

And Marotta may have to wait at least another year before he can crown his Inter Presidency with a league title.

The veteran executive finds himself hoping that Napoli will slip up and surrender their advantage at the top of the Serie A table so that Inter can repeat last season’s title win.

And behind the Partenopei is an old rival of Marotta, Aurelio De Laurentiis.

The outspoken Napoli President has become virtually synonymous with his team.

And the Gazzetta highlight the significance of this personal duel between the two well-travelled executives.

Marotta and De Laurentiis have quite different styles.

With Inter, Juventus, Sampdoria, and a host of other clubs, Marotta has generally preferred a quieter, diplomatic approach.

De Laurentiis, on the other hand, has rarely missed a chance to court controversy or stir the pot.

Marotta has worn a number of hats and had different titles and duties. He has worked at clubs with different goals, restrictions, and circumstances before reaching the top level with Inter and Juventus.

De Laurentiis is more of a deep-pockets entrepreneur behind his beloved Napoli side.

There have notably been clashes between Marotta and De Laurentiis. Perhaps most famously when Marotta orchestrated Juventus’s big money signing of striker Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli in 2016.

And now, the Gazzetta notes, the battle between two of Italy’s most high-profile executives rages on at the top of the Serie A table.