Di Lorenzo to Napoli legend Bruscolotti: at 75, I won't attack this dressing room

By the Data Desk · Published 22 OCT 06:45

First reported by Corriere dello Sport · 21 OCT 14:16

Napoli's captain answered one of the club's great former captains in an Instagram comment: "sarò poca roba ma quando avrò 75 anni da ex capitano non mi metterò di certo a sparare a zero sullo spogliatoio del Napoli" (I may be not much, but when I am 75, as a former captain, I certainly won't open fire on the Napoli dressing room). Giovanni Di Lorenzo was replying to Giuseppe Bruscolotti, who had said the team has no leader, and Corriere dello Sport reports that Bruscolotti has since apologised.

• Bruscolotti, who played for Napoli from 1972 to 1988, said at a Panini event that Di Lorenzo "è bravo sul campo, ma per il resto è poca roba" (is good on the pitch, but for the rest he is not much), according to Corriere dello Sport.
• Di Lorenzo's reply came under a SpazioNapoli.it post: "Ti ricordavo diverso al nostro incontro alla festa del Centenario. Un abbraccio caro Bruscolotti" (I remembered you differently from our meeting at the Centenary party. A hug, dear Bruscolotti).
• Napoli are ninth in Serie A with 10 points and three defeats in seven games, seven behind third-placed Roma, who visit the Maradona on Saturday 24 October at 18:00 Italian time (ESPN).

Bruscolotti spoke on the sidelines of Panini's launch of the 2026/27 sticker collection, and Corriere dello Sport quotes him at length. "La partenza di Lukaku non ci voleva. E' un uomo di carisma, era l'unico che teneva il Napoli" (Lukaku's departure was the last thing we needed; he is a man of charisma, the only one who held Napoli together), he said, before adding that "l'uomo rappresentativo manca proprio" (there is simply no figurehead). He was just as blunt about Kevin De Bruyne, whom he dismissed as one of many.

Di Lorenzo's full comment, as published by Corriere dello Sport, adds that the criticism came "non sapendo niente dall'esterno alimentando critiche inutili" (knowing nothing from the outside, fuelling pointless criticism). Then Bruscolotti stepped back and told Gianlucadimarzio.com, as reported by Corriere dello Sport: "Non intendevo essere offensivo nei suoi confronti. Se si è sentito offeso, chiedo scusa" (I did not mean to be offensive towards him. If he felt offended, I apologise).

Both men carry weight in Naples. Bruscolotti spent 16 seasons at the club and is remembered as the captain who handed the armband to Diego Maradona; Di Lorenzo has worn it since 2022 and lifted the league title with it in 2023 and 2025. The timing is what makes the row loud: Napoli lost 1-0 at Venezia on Saturday, their third league defeat after Como and Inter, then needed a 4-3 against Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday for their first Champions League points (ESPN).

What happens next: Napoli v Roma at the Maradona on Saturday 24 October at 18:00 Italian time. Roma are third with 17 points, unbeaten in the league, and have conceded 3 goals in seven games; Napoli have scored 10, against 21 for leaders Inter.