Napoli Managerial Candidate Lured by Premier League’s Spurs | OneFootball

Napoli Eyes Luis Enrique Amid Premier League Appeal

While the southern Italian football club, Napoli, finds itself in dialogue with former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique, a certain vibe persists that the Premier League may be the Spaniard’s ideal destination. Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has recently vocalised his thoughts on the matter, as the club scouts for a worthy successor to Luciano Spalletti.

The Quest to Replace Spalletti

Spalletti, after an accomplished run that witnessed Napoli securing the Serie A title, has made his intentions of stepping down quite clear. The club now finds itself in a quest to fill those significant boots. Amongst a pool of potential successors, Luis Enrique emerges as one of the favoured candidates. However, the situation is far from straightforward. As per De Laurentiis’s statements to broadcaster Rai, Luis Enrique’s preferences seem to be leaning towards the allure of the English top-flight.

“He is a great coach. He has done very well at Barcelona, but I think he has the Premier League in mind,” De Laurentiis shared, indicating that Napoli’s pursuit might be in competition with more financially enticing leagues like the Premier League.

The Journey of Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique has been in the footballing limelight for some time now. His notable coaching journey includes an impactful stint with Barcelona from 2014-2017, where he guided the club to victories in La Liga, Copa del Rey, and even the prestigious UEFA Champions League. His managerial portfolio also consists of coaching stints at Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona B.

The former Spain coach last held the reins of the Spanish national side, his tenure concluding with a last-16 defeat to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup. Since then, he’s been on a professional hiatus, which could well end if the cards play right for Napoli or perhaps, a Premier League club.

Tottenham Hotspur in the Mix?

As the story unfolds, reported by Fabrizio Romano in The Guardian, Tottenham Hotspur emerges as a key player in this transfer saga. Their hunt for a worthy replacement for Antonio Conte is ongoing. With Arne Slot, one of their prime targets, pledging his future to Feyenoord, Spurs’ radar prominently features the likes of Luis Enrique and Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou. However, their immediate priority remains appointing a director of football.

An Adieu to Spalletti and Felix’s Future

Luciano Spalletti is looking forward to a sabbatical year after orchestrating Napoli’s first Serie A title win since 1990. De Laurentiis, in his acknowledgment of Spalletti’s decision, described him as “a free man”. Spalletti will be seen one last time commanding the Napoli squad against Sampdoria this Sunday, marking the end of the current season.