De Laurentiis: The insane promise Napoli owner made to his player before Barcelona game

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis made a bold pledge to his players before their second leg Champions League last-16 match against Barcelona.

The Italian giants approached Tuesday night's fixture at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys with optimism, especially after Victor Osimhen's equalizer against Robert Lewandowski's opener secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

De Laurentiis sought to motivate his squad further before kick-off.

During an interview with journalist Guillem Balague for CBS Sports, the 74-year-old disclosed that he promised Napoli players over €10 million in bonuses if they advanced to the quarter-final stage.

"You are very well informed," he laughed after being asked about the bonus. "It's more than €10 million, in fact."

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis confirms to @GuillemBalague he will be paying his players €10m+ if they beat Barca ???? pic.twitter.com/VCMULgsxcY

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 12, 2024

De Laurentiis' promise backfires

However, the Italian businessman's pledge resulted in disappointment as Barcelona endured a tense second half to defeat Napoli 3-1, securing a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.

Xavi Hernandez's side made a strong start with goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo, but after Amir Rrahmani narrowed the lead, Barcelona began to feel the pressure, per SportBIBLE.

Despite salvaging a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the last-16 match, Italian champions Napoli ultimately succumbed when Robert Lewandowski scored from close range.

Barcelona have advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2020, achieving this feat despite the absence of injured midfield trio Pedri, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong.