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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Spalletti congratulates Napoli for 2024-25 Serie A title: ‘I cried for two hours'
Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti says that he 'cried for two hours' watching his former club Napoli during their celebrations after winning the 2024-25 Serie A title. Spalletti was at the helm in Naples in 2022-23, when the Partenopei won their first Scudetto in over 30 years, dating back to the Diego Maradona era. Napoli have since won their second league title in three years, claiming the honours for 2024-25 in the final round of the season. Advertisement Spalletti, now head coach of the Italy national team, did not send any public messages to his former club in the immediate aftermath of their 2024-25 Scudetto, but has since had an opportunity to congratulate his old club during his press conference at Coverciano on Sunday. Spalletti sends congratulations to former club Napoli Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti during his press conference at Coverciano. The CT revealed that he spoke privately with Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who is also part of the Italy squad for the upcoming June World Cup qualifiers. He also insists that 'full credit' must go to Napoli head coach Antonio Conte, who helped turn the team around following a 10th place finish in Serie A last season. Advertisement Spalletti added that he cried 'for two hours' while watching Napoli celebrate during their parade through the city of Naples last week. 'I didn't make any posts, but of course I sent Di Lorenzo a message to congratulate him on what they achieved, something extraordinary, especially after the tough moment they came from,' Spalletti said at his press conference on Sunday, attended by Football Italia. 'But full credit must go to Conte and the players for what they showed throughout the entire season,' he added. NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 26: SSC Napoli players and staff on two busses celebrate the victory of Serie A TIM during the SSC Napoli Trophy Parade on May 26, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by) 'They were a real team from start to finish. Consistent performances and a growing understanding of the game, refined over time. 'The rest is thanks to the greatness of the Neapolitan supporters. I cried for two hours watching the parade. All I can say is well done, really well done.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pope Leo receives signed jersey from Serie A champions Napoli
STORY: :: Pope Leo XVI meets Italy's newly-crowned Serie A champions Napoli :: Vatican City :: May 27, 2025 ''Winning the championship is an achievement at the end of a long journey, where what matters most is not the one-time exploit, or the extraordinary performance of a champion.' ''We must be very careful about the moral quality of the sporting experience at a competitive level, because the human growth of young people is at stake.'' The team, captained by Italian international Giovanni Di Lorenzo, arrived for their papal audience a day after a triumphant open-top bus parade through central Naples. Leo, the first pope to come from the U.S., follows and practises sports, including tennis. People who know him have described him to the media as an AS Roma supporter. Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis gave him a blue Napoli jersey signed by players, bearing the number 10 and his name in Italian, "Papa Leone XIV".
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kvaratskhelia on for unprecedented treble after Napoli Scudetto
Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is currently on course for an unprecedented treble, as he will receive a league winner's medal after Napoli's Serie A title victory on Friday night, as well as a Ligue 1 medal and potentially one in the Champions League to go with it as well. Napoli have been crowned champions of Italy for the second time in three years after a 2-0 victory against Cagliari on Friday night. Inter pushed them until the very end, but were unable to overtake in their final match of the season, despite a 2-0 win away against Como. Advertisement You can see the latest reactions, celebrations and updates from Napoli's title win on the Football Italia Liveblog. NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli lifts the Serie A TIM Scudetto title trophy after his team's victory in the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by) Why Kvaratskhelia could win three medals in one season Kvaratskhelia began the 2024-25 season with Napoli and made 17 appearances in Serie A, contributing with five goals and three assists, which places him among the club's top five league goalscorers this season. Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli, in Milan, Italy, 29 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO He left the Partenopei to join PSG for a €70m fee during the winter transfer window, and has since gone on to provide four goals and three assists in 14 Ligue 1 appearances in France as well. As he has played in both squads this season, Kvaratskhelia will receive winner's medals from both Napoli and PSG this season after both teams won their respective league titles. The Georgian will have an opportunity to make it an unprecedented treble when he and PSG go up against Serie A representatives Inter in the Champions League final taking place in Munich next Saturday, May 31.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
McTominay and Lukaku Goals Lead Napoli to Serie A Title and Conte's ‘Most Unexpected' Trophy
The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli its second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. 'Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,' Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. 'Napoli needed him to get back on top. He's phenomenal.' Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won at Juventus and one at Inter Milan, not to mention a Premier League title at Chelsea, Conte said it was 'the most unexpected, the most difficult, and the most stimulating in terms of the challenge.' Conte also noted how he had to try and convince players to stay when he arrived last June. Napoli needed only to do the same or better than defending champion Inter in the final round of matches, so Inter's 2-0 win at 10-man Como wasn't enough for the Nerazzurri. Napoli finished Serie A one point ahead of Inter. The southern squad's fourth Serie A title overall capped an impressive turnaround after the Partenopei finished 10th during a dismal title defense last season. 'The one two years ago was one we were (expecting) for months, whereas this week we had so much anxiety, we couldn't wait to get on the field and win this in front of our fans,' said winger Matteo Politano, who provided the cross for McTominay's goal. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its first two titles in 1987 and 1990. The 2023 team led by Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia clinched with five rounds to spare. Inter was heading toward the title until McTominay went airborne to redirect a pass from Politano in the 42nd minute for his 12th goal this season after transferring from Manchester United. 'For me to come and experience this, it's a dream,' McTominay said. Lukaku, who was signed from Chelsea in August, controlled a long vertical pass and dribbled by two defenders before scoring in the 51st. It was his 14th goal along with his league-leading 10 assists. Conte watched the match from the tribune after getting sent off last weekend. But he went down to the pitch at the final whistle and embraced Lukaku, with whom he also won Serie A at Inter in 2021. McTominay dropped to the pitch in tears when the match finished. Minutes later he was honored as Serie A player of the season. Napoli players held up signs that read 'Again' featuring a '4' for the team's fourth title. Napoli fans began cheering and singing hours before kickoff at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and erupted in celebration at the final whistle, including at jumbo screens that were set up in several of the city's central piazzas. Cagliari was already sure of avoiding relegation, but goalkeeper Alen Sherri was inspired at the start, denying Napoli on multiple occasions early on. While Napoli won by 16 points two years ago under Luciano Spalletti, this season was a duel with Inter virtually all season. It was also unexpected after Napoli went through three coaches last season – Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona. But Conte constructed the best defense in Serie A, and brought in Lukaku and McTominay to play alongside holdovers from the 2023 team like captain Di Lorenzo, goalkeeper Alex Meret and midfielder Stanislav Lobotka. Di Lorenzo matched Maradona by captaining Napoli to two titles. It also helped that Napoli did not play in Europe this season, keeping the team fresher for Serie A. Inter rested its starters Defender Stefan de Vrij scored 20 minutes in for Inter, redirecting a corner kick with a bouncing header. Como was reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off at the end of the first half for a foul on Mehdi Taremi. It was Reina's final game before retiring. Joaquín Correa added another for Inter after the break in almost the same moment that Lukaku scored for Napoli. Inter, which is also preparing for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in eight days, rested most of its usual starters, including top strikers Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram.
Arab News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
McTominay and Lukaku goals lead Napoli to Serie A title and Conte's ‘most unexpected' trophy
ROME: The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli its second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. 'Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,' Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. 'Napoli needed him to get back on top. He's phenomenal.' Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won at Juventus and one at Inter Milan — not to mention a Premier League title at Chelsea — Conte said it was 'the most unexpected, the most difficult, and the most stimulating in terms of the challenge.' Conte also noted how he had to try and convince players to stay when he arrived last June. Napoli needed only to do the same or better than defending champion Inter in the final round of matches, so Inter's 2-0 win at 10-man Como wasn't enough for the Nerazzurri. Napoli finished Serie A one point ahead of Inter. The southern squad's fourth Serie A title overall capped an impressive turnaround after the Partenopei finished 10th during a dismal title defense last season. 'The one two years ago was one we were for months, whereas this week we had so much anxiety, we couldn't wait to get on the field and win this in front of our fans,' said winger Matteo Politano, who provided the cross for McTominay's goal. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its first two titles in 1987 and 1990. The 2023 team led by Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia clinched with five rounds to spare. Inter was heading toward the title until McTominay went airborne to redirect a pass from Politano in the 42nd minute for his 12th goal this season after transferring from Manchester United. 'For me to come and experience this, it's a dream,' McTominay said. Lukaku, who was signed from Chelsea in August, controlled a long vertical pass and dribbled by two defenders before scoring in the 51st. It was his 14th goal along with his league-leading 10 assists. Conte watched the match from the tribune after getting sent off last weekend. But he went down to the pitch at the final whistle and embraced Lukaku, with whom he also won Serie A at Inter in 2021. McTominay dropped to the pitch in tears when the match finished. Minutes later he was honored as Serie A player of the season. Napoli players held up signs that read 'Again' featuring a '4' for the team's fourth title. Napoli fans began cheering and singing hours before kickoff at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and erupted in celebration at the final whistle — including at jumbo screens that were set up in several of the city's central piazzas. Cagliari was already sure of avoiding relegation but goalkeeper Alen Sherri was inspired at the start, denying Napoli on multiple occasions early on. While Napoli won by 16 points two years ago under Luciano Spalletti, this season was a duel with Inter virtually all season. It was also unexpected after Napoli went through three coaches last season – Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona. But Conte constructed the best defense in Serie A, and brought in Lukaku and McTominay to play alongside holdovers from the 2023 team like captain Di Lorenzo, goalkeeper Alex Meret and midfielder Stanislav Lobotka. Di Lorenzo matched Maradona by captaining Napoli to two titles. It also helped that Napoli did not play in Europe this season — keeping the team fresher for Serie A. Inter rested its starters Defender Stefan de Vrij scored 20 minutes in for Inter, redirecting a corner kick with a bouncing header. Como was reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off at the end of the first half for a foul on Mehdi Taremi. It was Reina's final game before retiring. Joaquín Correa added another for Inter after the break in almost the same moment that Lukaku scored for Napoli. Inter, which is also preparing for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in eight days, rested most of its usual starters, including top strikers Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram.
