The Croatian coach went to bed on Monday night with the certainty of being the new Napoli coach, but then De Laurentiis changed his mind.
He left Marseille with an eye to the Juventus bench which seemed within reach, rejected Besiktas as he was waiting for Napoli… and when that became a reality with only his signature left to be put on paper everything changed.
According to ‘Il Mattino,’ Igor Tudor went to bed on Monday night convinced he would be the new Napoli coach, but during the night, the unpredictable Napoli president De Laurentiis shifted towards his old friend Walter Mazzarri.
In reality, Tudor’s agent, Anthony Seric, played a significant role, being so convinced that Napoli had no alternatives he kept raising the demands. On the other hand, De Laurentiis was pushing for a reduction in costs.
It seemed like the most typical back-and-forth in any negotiation, but in reality, the connection between Tudor and the president never clicked. As is known, when choosing a coach, the president relies only on his instinct. This time, his instinct led him to retreat to the past.
The biggest problem, however, was the seven-month contract which the Croatian didn’t want and the Napoli president insisted on. The idea of guiding Napoli towards a new coach wasn’t Tudor’s preference, and this became a stumbling block in the negotiations. So much so that on Tuesday morning, De Laurentiis called him to say he could leave Rome without worry, as he wouldn’t be Napoli’s coach.
De Laurentiis only wanted someone until the end of the season. If they produce some kind of magic they will stay, if not Antonio Conte is what he wants. And prehaps that is why Mazzarri had another plus in his choosing, he plays with 3 man defence, and that will prepare the team well for Antonio Conte’s coming
