Aurelio De Laurentiis has linked the future of Napoli to a new stadium in Napoli Est rather than a major renovation of the existing Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

According to local reports on his remarks, the Napoli president argues that the current Maradona stadium should be demolished to make space for new housing, with the club moving to a purpose-built modern arena elsewhere in the city.

The Napoli Est proposal

The proposed new stadium would have 70,000 seats, 120 sky boxes, and an interactive museum dedicated to Diego Armando Maradona.

De Laurentiis is reported as saying the project could be completed in 24 months without public funding.

The proposal is presented as a club-led plan. No official planning approval, construction timetable, or financing documentation was reported, so it should be read as a proposal rather than an approved construction project.

Qualiano training centre

Alongside the stadium idea, reports describe a planned Napoli training centre in Qualiano, in the Metropolitan City of Naples.

The centre would occupy 17.5 hectares and include 10 football pitches plus 7,500 square metres for offices and changing rooms.

An earlier reported figure mentioned 25 hectares, so the final land area remains unclear from the available reporting.

Two competing visions for the Maradona

For readers following the stadium debate, there are currently two different directions on the table:

  1. De Laurentiis's new-build vision: demolish the Maradona, build housing on the site, and move Napoli to a new 70,000-seat stadium in Napoli Est.
  1. The municipal refurbishment path: the Comune di Napoli is described in reporting as pursuing a refurbishment of the existing stadium estimated at 200 million euros, with a possible candidacy connected to Euro 2032.

That refurbishment estimate and the Euro 2032 plans were reported by local press but were not independently verified against municipal documents.

Criticism of Cardinale

De Laurentiis also criticised AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale, describing him as having the needs of a financier rather than those of a traditional entrepreneur.

No separate comment from Cardinale was reported.

What is known and what is not yet decided

What is known from the two local reports:

  • The location preference is Napoli Est for a new stadium.
  • The stated capacity target is 70,000 seats with 120 sky boxes.
  • An interactive Maradona museum is part of the concept.
  • A separate training-centre project in Qualiano is planned with pitches, offices, and changing rooms.
  • The stated construction ambition is 24 months without public funds.

What is not yet decided:

  • Whether planning authorities will approve a Napoli Est stadium.
  • How the project would be financed in detail.
  • Whether the Maradona will be demolished or refurbished.
  • The final size of the Qualiano site.
  • The status and cost of any municipal Euro 2032 refurbishment.

The reported statements are attributed to De Laurentiis. The Comune di Napoli, Cardinale, and SSC Napoli were not separately quoted for comment in the research obtained.