De Laurentiis under investigation for bankruptcy: raids on Napoli, Bari and Filmauro
Luigi and Aurelio De Laurentiis are under investigation for false corporate communications and fraudulent bankruptcy related to SSC Bari. The Guardia di Finanza conducted raids on the headquarters of the two clubs and Filmauro.
Investigation into SSC Bari: the De Laurentiis family in the Prosecutor's sights
Luigi and Aurelio De Laurentiis are under investigation for false corporate communications and fraudulent bankruptcy, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano. Luigi, in his capacity as sole administrator of SSC Bari, and his father Aurelio, chairman of the board of directors of Napoli and legal representative of Filmauro, are at the centre of an investigation coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office of Bari.
The raids, carried out by the Guardia di Finanza on the orders of the Prosecutor's Office, involved the headquarters of Bari, Napoli and Filmauro srl. The measure stems from investigations into the accounts, supplementary notes and management reports of the Bari company, supported by technical consultations.
From the investigations, it emerged that SSC Bari presents systematic losses of approximately 30 million euros in the period 2019–2025, is burdened by a significant equity deficit and substantial debt exposure, "in the absence of a concrete rebalancing plan", as the Guardia di Finanza explained. The allegations are also connected to the request for opening judicial liquidation proceedings, filed due to the insolvency of the Apulian club.
The Caprile case: the transfer at the centre of the investigation
Among the specific points of the investigation is the transfer of goalkeeper Elia Caprile. The raids also involved three sports directors and a sports agent, who are not under investigation: sports directors Ciro Polito and Mauro Meluso, both former Bari, Cristiano Giuntoli, at Napoli until June 2023, and Caprile's agent, Graziano Battistini.
The four are believed to have been involved, in different capacities, in the operation to transfer the goalkeeper between Bari and Napoli. According to investigators, the Bari company's accounts contained "material facts that were presented but did not correspond to reality, or omitted information whose disclosure was necessary for a correct assessment of the company's economic, equity and financial situation".
Specifically, Bari had purchased Caprile's registration rights from Leeds FC, acknowledging to the English club bonuses linked to the possible resale value of the player. The Bari club then transferred Caprile to Napoli for 2.2 million euros in July 2023, "in the absence of any clause granting participation in any future profit", investigators specify. Such profit subsequently materialised: Caprile was sold to Cagliari Calcio for approximately 8 million euros.
Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca