Naples: trial in December for the Osimhen and Manolas cases

The preliminary hearing judge in Rome has committed the president of Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, to trial on charges of falsification of financial statements in relation to the financial years 2019, 2020 and 2021. In addition to the chairman, the judge has committed his right-hand man, Andrea Chiavelli, and the football club to trial. At the heart of the proceedings are alleged fictitious capital gains arising from the sale of defender Kostas Manolas to Roma in the summer of 2019 and the purchase of striker Victor Osimhen in 2020 from the French side Lille.

“We are utterly astonished by the judge’s decision. It is further proof of how the preliminary hearing is becoming a pointless formality until we have a judge who is truly impartial. All the conditions were in place here to acquit the defendants because the prosecution – or rather, the Guardia di Finanza – also erred in the application of accounting principles.” This is the position of the lawyers Gaetano Scalise, Fabio Fulgeri and Lorenzo Contrada, who are defending Adl.

The trial has been scheduled for 2 December 2026. “Unfortunately, until we reinstate the grounds for committal orders, this will be the fate of many trials. The prosecution and the public prosecutors highlighted in their closing speech that Napoli did not gain any advantage in this case,” the criminal lawyers conclude.

The investigation by the Roman public prosecutors has essentially followed two strands: one relating to the signing of the former Greek international, and the other concerning the deal that brought the Nigerian striker to the Azzurri. The Manolas deal dates back to the summer transfer window six years ago. Negotiations between the two clubs culminated in Napoli paying €36 million, a sum equal to the release clause. This deal generated a capital gain of over 31 million euros for the Giallorossi, who were then led by James Pallotta.

As for Osimhen, the investigators’ focus has been on the striker’s transfer for a sum exceeding 71 million euros. The case was referred to Rome in June 2022. The investigation was entrusted to officers from the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, who carried out a series of searches both at the Filmauro headquarters in Rome and in Castelvolturno, where Napoli’s headquarters are located.