In a long interview with Corriere dello Sport, Napoli sporting director Manna spoke about Conte’s words, the transfer market and the championship race
Andrea Della Sala Editor
December 31, 2026 (modified December 31, 2026 | 08:32)
In a long interview with Corriere dello Sport, Napoli sporting director Manna spoke about Conte’s words, the transfer market and the championship race:
Napoli was reborn after Bologna. It’s a lizard, it’s infinite.
«The ability to regenerate is linked to Conte’s ability to regenerate it. We have great men and great values: without them we would not have been able to react to difficulties with this strength and this desire to win. But there is a path ahead.”
By the way: why did Conte’s speech on the distance from Milan, Inter and Juve trigger chain reactions?
«I don’t agree when it is said that Napoli are the favorites for the Scudetto, and not because we want to unload pressure or shift it onto others: it is an objective fact. I come from a completely different reality and it is clear that there are structural gaps, but we fill them with these values that few have and which are not always enough.”
In the summer you invested a lot in the market.
«We needed to fill the numerical gaps in the squad and De Laurentiis didn’t hold back. The new goal is to raise the quality every year.”
The limitations on the winter market do not help in this sense.
«By increasing the squad, the wage bill has grown, but the revenues are different compared to the clubs in the North: different stadiums, different assets. It is not an equal fight: there is a structural and historical gap and we have created this wealth. Here there is an enormous work culture, dedication and desire to improve: everyone does more things for the good of Naples.”
What should we expect, concretely, on the market?
«We would like to reward the work of Conte and the players by improving the level of the team without breaking the balance: I don’t know if we will succeed, but we will try. January is always risky, last year we sold the most important player and perhaps we haven’t replaced him adequately yet.”
In which department do you plan interventions?
«The returns of Anguissa and Gilmour are closer, while Lukaku and De Bruyne are a question mark: therefore, we would like to raise the quality especially in the offensive department. We are making evaluations.”
On and off the pitch, acquiring Hojlund in a flash. A great shot.
«We did everything to get him. There were also other teams with a higher historical coat of arms, but his will was decisive: this makes us proud.”
Hojlund was a top purchase worth 50 million: the idea is that the values have already grown.
«We had no doubts, regardless of the insertion times. Rasmus is decisive for the numbers and above all for how he grows and incorporates the coach’s input. This makes the difference.”
Have you already redeemed it?
«There is an obligation in the case of Champions League with a right. The player considers himself to be from Napoli and Napoli considers him extremely important.
A formality, in short…
«To date, yes. I think that’s the case.”
Inter, Milan, Napoli, Juve, Roma: who is the favorite for the Scudetto?
«It’s a championship where anyone can lose to anyone and there isn’t a favorite yet. Milan is well equipped, has only one competition and a great coach like Allegri. Roma also have a great coach. Juve has Spalletti, another great player, and has invested a lot. And then there’s Inter: for me they remain the strongest, because history says so and because they have also become younger.”
Who is the strongest coach in Italy?
«Antonio Conte. And not to give him a gift, but for what I see with my own eyes: energy, dedication, ability. It’s too objective a fact: every day you have to prove that you live up to his standards.”
Do you like Norton-Cuffy?
«Good footballer, he has strength. There are many good ones.”
«In perspective he is the strongest right-back there is. Important young people are starting to emerge on whom to build Italy’s future: Pio Esposito is destined for great things. And there is Leoni.”
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