Better not to listen to De Laurentiis and to his “everyone is salable”. It is not true. At least not for Conte who is expected today at Castel Volturno for a “tour” of the technical center in the company of Manna and De Laurentiis. Because little by little the coach from Lecce is drawing up his list of untouchables. And we know: it’s better not to immediately get involved with the former coach. And one of these to start from is Alex Meret. Because we start again with the number 1 who very often ended up criticized for his amnesia: for the new coach and above all for those of his staff, the new Napoli must rely on the Friulian goalkeeper.
Conte spoke about it with Manna and De Laurentiis and someone even told Meret who is preparing his European Championship there from Coverciano, albeit with some physical problems. And this is why in the next few days, certainly before leaving for Dimaro’s retreat, Federico Pastorello and Giovanni Manna they will meet to start working on the extension of the contract which expires in 2025. For Meret, therefore, a renewal that has the flavor of an act of love: because Alex has been here since 2018 and is about to be the goalkeeper for the seventh season of the blues. A record. For Meret, work is underway to extend the agreement for at least another two years. And then? Before the arrival of With you, the plans for Caprile they expected another year on loan in Serie A (but not at Empoli).
Maybe at Cagliari or Verona. But it cannot be ruled out that the arrival of the former coach could change the plans: on the other hand, without Europe after 15 years, the Italian coach will rely on his loyalists and will hardly be forced into a turnover. In any case, Montipò, from Verona, former Benevento, is also on the list. In case the 22-year-old Caprile should be loaned again. But in any case, he still bets on Meret.
Conte’s aim is to lock down the locker room: he is someone who doesn’t say anything about the things that happen between him and his players: he is extremely jealous of them. Not even face to face. But we know, with Di Lorenzo there is an open wound from the harsh words of his manager Giuffredi. And Conte, with Oriali and Manna, feels the need to get to the bottom of this rupture. And this is why there will be a meeting with Di Lorenzo’s agent, to understand how deep the gap is. And also to explain that many things, even in the management of the team’s relationships with the president, will change with his arrival.
Will it be enough? The feeling, at the moment, is that Di Lorenzo will confirm his desire to leave. Also because the Juventus temptation is there. And it’s not insignificant. It’s not a question of money, it has nothing to do with it: but this disastrous year has broken something in the relationship between the captain and the environment around him. Too much criticism from the club didn’t go down well with him. The other issue concerns the renewal of Kvararskhelia: Conte knows how much contractual torments can also affect performance on the pitch.
And he doesn’t want certain things to drag on like the endless Brazilian soap operas: therefore, he asked sporting director Manna to find an agreement for the renewal. Napoli will reach 7 million gross. And it will do so soon. Thus repelling, at least this summer, PSG’s assault.
It is not easy to find an agreement with PSG for the sale of Osimhen. Plan B is not the Premier but Saudi Arabia: Al Ahli is ready to pay the clause, but does not have the agreement with the Nigerian who will wait even longer before saying yes to the Pif fund. It’s complicated for De Laurentiis to imagine a discount compared to the 120 million of the clause (a year ago he refused 140 million euros) but those 15 million euros gross weigh on the wages.
You have to be patient. Cairo didn’t like Manna’s forward escapes for Buongiorno: Torino raises the wall for their defender, he reiterates to Beppe Riso, his agent, who for less than 55 million won’t move from under the Mole. A bluff? Perhaps. Napoli prepares the first lunge: 40 million euros. Hermoso is liked quite a bit: but the commissions of his agents freeze the blue boss. Fazzini from Empoli is liked, the operation will soon come to fruition.
