NAPLES – The matters of the captain and Kvara. And then that of Frank Zambo Anguissa: another unsellable. Another of the untouchables from Antonio Conte’s films, of his Napoli which is being born and reborn from the ashes of the scudetto and of a season that has sown disappointment and confusion. Total. But now Conte is there, he will be there very soon officially too, and the address and line are exactly those of the last few days: a series of players are not for sale, they are armored, they are considered central to the project that the new coach has already inaugurated in civilian clothes, together with De Laurentiis and sporting director Manna, awaiting announcements. This is a signal: it is the demonstration of how much Mr. Antonio is inside the blue world with the same spirit and leadership as always.
Anguissa is unsellable. And the others…
We were saying: the song of the Arab sirens of Cristiano’s Al-Nassr surrounded – and at times overwhelmed – Anguissa’s championship finale. A totem of the season of triumph, a symbol of the one that ended without cups, in tenth place: Frank was the stand-in for the marvelous midfielder of the championship year, the ugly and absent-minded twin of the total player who overflowed and dominated. Yes. But Conte knows perfectly well that certain splendid stories can take turns like this, only to then return to the cover: and he, Anguissa will be right at the top of the upcoming midfield. Together with Stanislav Lobotka, of course, the lighthouse, another one that the coach likes quite a bit. After the European Championship, Napoli will also rediscover Michael Folorunsho, the true protagonist of Verona’s salvation who Spalletti rewarded with a call up to the national team. In training camp, then, the position of Jens Cajuste will be evaluated, one of the signings of a summer ago, one of the most opaque players of the season despite an indisputable commitment.
Naples, the Hojbjerg idea
In sporting director Manna’s list, however, there has been a man for some time that Conte has known deeply having coached him at Tottenham: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 28 years old, Danish, already in the sights of the Italian club in January and also of Juventus at the time of Manna himself. A triple convergence of satisfaction, in short, without prejudice to costs, circumstances and crowding of the squad: the team, all things considered, will only compete in the championship and Italian Cup next season and therefore the signings will be targeted. And they will revolve around the famous untouchables mentioned above: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Olivera, Lobotka, Anguissa, Politano, Kvaratskhelia, Raspadori they are the first names on a list that Conte could gradually enrich, with tests in hand and the field under his feet. There is only one belief: work.
The names for the attack
About Kvara: after working as a tour guide – for laughs – for his friend and national teammate Davitashvili, who was visiting Naples together with his wife, Khvicha began preparing with Georgia for the European Championship. TOSports director Manna and his agent Mamuka Jugeli will take care of the renewal. Still remaining close to the attack, and waiting for suitable offers for Osimhen, the club leafs through the book of ideas or temptations: Romelu Lukaku, who has just returned to Chelsea after a year at Roma but is leaving (37.5 million pound clause, around 44 million euros), with whom Conte has a direct relationship made up of contacts and old esteem; Viktor Gyökeres, avalanche of goals with Sporting Lisbon and a 100 million euro clause. The Swede, top scorer in the last Primeira with 29 goals, 43 overall in 50 games, is liked a lot by Mr. Conte but his costs are prohibitive at the moment. Also on the list, and at the top, are Dovbyk of Girona and Guirassy of Stuttgart. Then Strand Larsen of Celta Vigo and Lucca, an Italian solution in the case of the sale of Simeone, who Udinese will redeem from Pisa.
