That Napoli fans despise Juventus is no newfound phenomenon. Neapolitan natives and their Turin counterparts have long been defined by cultural and socio-political divides between the North and South of Italy and, when Diego Armando Maradona inspired Napoli to their first Scudetto in 1987, the rivalry between them and the team from 'the other italy' was exacerbated tenfold.
Thirty years on, and another Argentine has caused the vitriol between the two clubs to erupt with a Vesuvian ferocity.
Gonzalo Higuain traded the South of the peninsula for the North last Summer in a deal worth £75.3m. Neapolitans were, unsurprisingly outraged and made quick work of letting their feelings on the move known in typically brash displays around the city of Naples.
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'Partenopei' chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis described the move as "a betrayal" while 'El Pipita' claims that he left the Stadio San Paolo due to his relationship with Napoli's film producing chief becoming untenable, saying in an interview at the time, "It was my decision to leave, but it was [De Laurentiis] who pushed me into making it. I'd like to thank the fans and my teammates, but not De Laurentiis. I no longer had a relationship with him; I couldn't stand another minute with him."
Now, with the two clubs set to go head-to-head at the San Paolo on 2nd April (and then again three days later in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final), details have leaked of what Napoli fans are planning for their former hero's big return.
How does the Napoli-Juventus rivalry measure up to some of football's other biggest rivalries?
When the 'Bianconeri' take to the San Paolo pitch in April, they could be greeted by a flash mob revealing a giant, synchronised raspberry in the stands.
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A statement from the currently unnamed fan who has launched the fruity appeal reads, "Leave at home all violent intent. The Neapolitan people, civilised as we are, resolve issues not with violence, but in a peaceful manner to even the most deadly of wrongs.
"A single giant raspberry synchronised throughout the entire stadium and then leave it all behind us, goodbye to rancour, because life goes on."
Higuain during happier times with Napoli. Image: PA
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Neapolitan film legend Toto was notorious for using the raspberry to take down authority figures and will reportedly be included in the graphic, should it go ahead.
We imagine a large portion of fans will likely just opt for hurling mum based insults at Higuain for 90 minutes and, let's face it, isn't that what being a football fan's all about?
(H/T Football Italia)
Topics: Gonzalo Higuain, Football, Serie A, Juventus, Napoli
