Gattuso Leaves Napoli For Champions League

Gennaro Gattuso (Twitter @en_sscnapoli))

JAKARTA - Gennaro Gattuso is set to leave Napoli after finishing fifth in Serie A, club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Monday.

Napoli failed to secure a place in the Champions League in the final week of the season when they could only draw 1–1 at home against mid-table side Hellas Verona.

"Dear Rino (Gattuso), I am delighted to have spent almost two seasons with you. Thank you for your work and I wish you success wherever you go. Hugs also for your wife and children," De Laurentiis wrote via his Twitter account after the match as quoted by Antara from Reuters.

Caro Rino, sono felice di aver trascorso quasi due stagioni con te. Ringraziandoti per il lavoro svolto, ti auguro successi ovunque tu vada. Un abbraccio anche a tua moglie e ai tuoi figli. Aurelio De Laurentiis

— AurelioDeLaurentiis (@ADeLaurentiis) May 23, 2021

The announcement also confirmed long-circulated media speculation that Gattuso would leave Napoli when his contract expires in June.

Napoli's official Twitter account also confirmed Gattuso's departure and expressed his gratitude to the former AC Milan midfielder.

Gattuso was appointed to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Napoli coach in December 2019 and led them to the Coppa Italia trophy in June 2020.

Thank you, boss! pic.twitter.com/iMXcr9RmRd

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) May 23, 2021

Next season's Champions League fixtures belong to Inter Milan, AC Milan, Atalanta, and Juventus. Napoli, meanwhile, has only got Europa League tickets.

Napoli, who hosted Verona at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in the 2020/21 Italian League final weekend, took the lead in the 60th minute through Amir Rrahmani's goal to get them back into the top four.

However, nine minutes later Marco Faraoni equalized for Verona and the score was 1-1 down by Napoli who appeared blunt in the final third of the pitch until the whistle sounded.