President Aurelio DeLaurentiis will not accompany Napoli in their first European away match of the season, as he will have to attend a ceremony in Rome. The Italian delegation will travel to the Estadio de la Ceramica on 13 October to face Villarreal, but DeLaurentiis will remain in Rome to receive the Golden Collar of Sporting Merit, the highest honor of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). The award was given to the club to celebrate its hundred years of activity.
CONI has decided to honor the Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli on the occasion of its centenary, recognizing the club's contribution to the Italian sporting panorama. The ceremony will be held tomorrow at the GiulioOnesti Olympic Preparation Center, located in AcquaAcetosa, where DeLaurentiis will be present to receive the recognition. According to Corriere dello Sport, the event is of great prestige and represents a historic moment for the team and for the city of Naples.
Napoli, which has already consolidated its position in SerieA, is preparing for an important match in the Champions League. The match against Villarreal, scheduled for Tuesday evening, will be the first European match of the season and an opportunity to test the new formation in view of the next stages. The team, even without the presence of the president, will continue to focus on a solid performance and maintain the trust of the fans.
With the departure of DeLaurentiis from the delegation, the team will have to rely on the leadership of the coach and key players to guide the game. The club, which has invested significantly in its squad, aims to consolidate its position in the Champions League group stage and capitalize on the experience of its more experienced players. The Golden Collar award ceremony, although not directly linked to the result on the pitch, is a sign of the historical and cultural value that Napoli has acquired over a century of football history.