Aurelio De Laurentiis courted the ire of Africans after making a loose statement about not signing players from the continent due to their AFCON engagement
Super Eagles assistant coach, Usman Abdallah has lashed out at the Napoli owner tagging his statement ‘stupid’ and ‘disrespectful’ to Africans.
De Laurentiis in an interview with Smart Talk on Wall Street Italia said he will not sign African players again unless they agree not to represent their countries at the biennial AFCON tournament.
The statement hasn't been taken lightly by Africans as it’s deemed racist and slighting.
“I told them, lads, don't talk to me about Africans anymore!” he said in the statement.
“We are the idiots who pay salaries only to send them all over the world playing for others.”
A far-from-impressed Abdallah thrashed De Laurentiis and said it wasn't a statement expected of someone of his calibre.
“I think he needs to come out, to tell the truth, using the Africa Cup of Nations as a yardstick is not a good excuse,” Abdallah said according to Goal.
“Are Napoli players not participating in Uefa Euro, Uefa Nations League and even Copa America? Or are they not the same as Afcon?
“It would have been understandable if he said Napoli’s African players who get injured at Afcon are not well taken care of, or maybe when their players play in the competition, they violate certain rules.
“Even at that, his statement shows a lack of respect for Africa and it is stupid to say that. It is so disheartening that someone of his calibre can make such a statement.”
