Napoli can demand €150m from Chelsea for Sarri, claims ingenious lawyer

Amid all the reports of Sarri's transfer to Chelsea being finalized this week one way or another, apparently Napoli's lawyer, Mattia Grassani, didn't quite get the memo so he has come out and boasted about how Napoli can demand €150m for Maurizio Sarri.

“Sarri doesn’t need to be informed of his sacking because once the 2018-2019 season has started, by which point Napoli will officially have another Coach registered, the other [Sarri] will be automatically lifted from his office. It’s a choice that Napoli can reserve until July 31.

“Sarri’s a Coach who is still available to Napoli. He hasn’t been sacked, he’s under contract until June 30, 2020. His release clause can be exercised until May 31 of each season he is contracted, and it’s effective from July 1.

“Now it’s expired, Sarri could be released with effect from July 1 next year if the clause is paid.

“Therefore, the clause has no value today. Napoli could even demand €150m to free him, so we need to talk.”

-Mattia Grassani; Source: CalcioNapoli24 via Football Italia

In theory, Mr. Lawyer Man is obviously right. Napoli can technically demand whatever they wish. But they don’t have have as much leverage as he seems to believe, unless we’re meant to believe that they truly will pay two head coaches for the entire season.

However, the whole, “we need to talk” bit is definitely concerning. It’s already the first week of July and there’s no more time for such shenanigans. Hopefully, the reports over the weekend from the Telegraph and Guardian will be proven correct and we will sort this mess out this week. (And then never do business with De Laurentiis again.)