Napoli have asked UEFA to move their Champions League clash with Liverpool.
The Serie A giants were originally due to host Jurgen Klopp’s side at their Stadio San Paolo home for the Group C encounter on October 3.
But Aurelio De Laurentiis is seeking to switch the fixture to an alternative venue as Napoli’s stadium, which is owned by the local authority, fails to meet UEFA requirements.
Napoli previously used Palermo’s Stadio Renzo Barbera as their designated location for hosting matches in European club competitions.
Liverpool previously played at the San Paolo during Roy Hodgson’s brief tenure when the teams were paired in the 2010 Europa League group stages.
But De Laurentiis wants to shift the Reds’ game to the Stadio San Nicola, some three hours away from the original location, where he is also owner of Bari.
The Partonopei president revealed his plans to move the game to the Serie D side’s stadium at Monday’s meeting of the European Club Association.
“Nobody can tell you to do anything if you put in your own money and have the land to build a stadium,” he told Corriere dello Sport.
“In the meantime, I’ve asked UEFA to authorise us to play Champions League matches at Bari.
“I’ll pay for 1,000 buses out of my own pocket so Napoli fans can attend the match.”
Last week, De Laurentiis questioned European football’s governing body for seeding Liverpool in the third tier of last month’s Champions League draw.