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Outgoing Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been summoned to a hearing at the Italian football federation over his association with people with links to the Camorra.
Reina, along with Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica, is to face the FIGC’s disciplinary committee after an investigation by Naples’ anti-mafia department.
The FIGC says Reina “has had and continues to have inopportune association and friendship with Gabriele Esposito, Francesco Esposito and Giuseppe Esposito.” It adds that that includes holidays and “an exchange of favours.”
Cannavaro, who had two spells with Napoli, retired at Sassuolo last year. Aronica also spent several years at the southern club before joining Palermo in 2013.
The players were linked in an investigation about two Italian entrepreneurs who have been arrested in Mafia operation in Naples. The Esposito brothers, Gabriele, Francesco and Giuseppe are living in the neighbourhood of Posillipo and have multiple economic activities in the city. They own one of the best known discos in Naples and they also have interests in the commercialiaation of toys.
The Esposito brothers are accused of fictitious heading of assets with the aggravating circumstance of having committed the work in order to facilitate the activity of the Camorra clans Contini and Sarno. The report claims wives of the entrepreneurs have also been arrested.
Italian authorities have confirmed the brothers Esposito are in contact with some Napoli players as well as some Italian VIPs. The disco they owned, the ‘Club Partenopeo’ was the place where Pepe Reina organized his Napoli farewell party a few days ago.
Their luxury living allowed them to be usually in touch with Napoli players and other personalities of the Italian show-biz.
