“Certain! Yesterday, Thursday 25 April 2024, I was having lunch in a well-known restaurant in Naples, in the Sanità area, and by pure chance I met President De Laurentiis. He was with his entire family: wife, children and grandchildren. Despite this, the phone did not stop ringing for a second. He received two calls in particular: one from Antonio Conte and one from the well-known agent Federico Pastorello“.
What did you talk about with Antonio Conte?
“Mainly about economic and market agreements. Conte’s first request was 10 million, with De Laurentiis’ counteroffer based instead on 8 million. However, the agreement should have been found on the basis of 9 million + possible bonus in case of Scudetto triumph. The deputy should correspond to the name of Ciro Ferrara. Another request from the coach was that relating to the irremovable players: Conte would have identified Napoli Di Lorenzo, Anguissa and Kvaratskhelia as pillars of his future“.
And what did they say to Pastorello instead?
“A subsequent market summit was organized with Pastorello, which was then held at the Hotel Britanninque. Probable a discussion on Conte’s possible transfer objectives or even a conversation regarding the coach himself, relying on the figure of Pastorello as an intermediary during the negotiations with Chelsea and Tottenham“.
You told us about possible market objectives for Conte in the event of his arrival at Napoli. Were you able to obtain any information regarding the names that the coach would like to bring with him to the national team?
“Certain! The list is very dense. Conte would have proposed several names to De Laurentiis, asking the president for at least one profile per department among those mentioned. In goal the coach would like to focus on Caprile (and here Pastorello, Meret’s agent, comes into play), while he would be looking for heavy shots in defence. Conte would like at least one, if not two, between Skriniar, Kim and Buongiorno for his defensive department“.
Has the coach proposed other names besides those just mentioned for the rearguard?
“The discussion is quite broad, especially in midfield. One of the names that Conte would like would in fact be that of Amrabat, who played little at Manchester United, while in the background there would even be Kessie. According to the coach, the former Milan player should be targeted in the event of an indispensable offer for Anguissa, and the consequent departure of one of the pillars identified by Conte“.
In Naples, however, the main news came from the attacking side, given the imminent departure of Osimhen. The names most often linked to the Azzurri are those of David, Gimenez and Dovbyk: have you had any feedback here too?
“Clearly, Conte is also aware of Osimhen’s almost certain departure. He himself would have pushed for the sale of the Nigerian and not only that, given that he would also like Simeone’s farewell. As a striker, the coach would therefore like to obtain one of Boniface, Gimenez and Lukaku, his protégé and linked once again to Federico Pastorello. There are also confirmations from Retegui, who clearly hasn’t been explored as post-Osimhen: the Argentine is an alternative in the event of the aforementioned transfer for Simeone“.
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