Italy: Mixed reports on Spalletti’s appointment as coach

Rome: There are mixed reports regarding Luciano Spalletti’s appointment as Italy’s coach with Il Corriere dello Sport claiming FIGC will announce the ex-Napoli boss by the weekend.

Spalletti is the leading candidate to replace Roberto Mancini at the helm of La Nazionale, but a €3m clause in his contract with Napoli, keeps Lucio tied to the Serie A champions until next summer.

FIGC are unwilling to match Spalletti’s release clause from Napoli and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the coach doesn’t want to enter a legal battle with his ex-employer Aurelio De Laurentiis.

However, both the pink paper and Il Corriere dello Sport claim Spalletti has reached a principle of agreement with the FIGC. According to CorSport, the 64-year-old will earn €2m until June 2024 and €2.5m per year until the end of his contract in 2026.

Contrary to Gazzetta, the Rome-based paper claims Spalletti is ready to face De Laurentiis in court if Napoli don’t get the money from his release clause.

Corriere dello Sport adds that FIGC President Gabriele Gravina is expected to meet Spalletti in Florence today and announce his appointment on Friday