Napoli owner and president Aurelio De Laurentiis has always been a bit different and a bit strange – but his latest outburst might just top them all. The wily businessman went out and said that his club will no longer recruit African footballers – at least not those who want to play for their national teams!##NAJAVA_MECA_6544141##Africa’s most important tournament is a particular thorn in De Laurentiis’ side. He told his associates in charge of transfer dealings that he’s fed up with players who often travel back to Africa to play for their country.”I told them, lads, don’t talk to me about Africans anymore! I love them, but either they sign something confirming they’ll back out of playing the Africa Cup of Nations. We are the idiots who pay salaries only to send them all over the world playing for others.”De Laurentiis even suggested that contracts with African players would have clauses that would legally prevent them from flying back to their countries for international matches and tournaments.#DeLaurentiis: “Non mi parlate più di calciatori africani! Li prendo solo se mi firmano che rinunciano alle competizioni in Africa. Vi spiego perché” pic.twitter.com/c1fDiwE2pL— Manuel Guardasole ✍🏻 (@MGuardasole) August 2, 2022 Napoli currently has some of the continent’s top players. Victor Osimhen is a regular striker for the Super Eagles for Nigeria, while Zambo Franck-Anguissa is a midfield lynchpin for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The scheduling of AFCON has always conflicted with major European leagues, with most editions happening in January when the leagues are in full swing. At this year’s edition, there was contention over Watford and Nigeria striker Emmanuel Dennis after he failed to report to his national side.
