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Free Interview Pod - Napoli Transfer Deep-Dive With Vincenzo Credendino: From Osimhen To Lukaku & Much More (Ep. 426)
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From the backstory how Aurelio De Laurentiis ended up getting his "dream coach" Antonio Conte, what led to Giovanni Di Lorenzo asking to be sold to Juventus, and the future of Stanislav Lobotka, Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano, to Romelu Lukaku and Alessandro Buongiorno links, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contract extension talks and much, much more in this 65 minute Napoli transfer market deep dive with CalcioNapoli24TV journalist and broadcaster Vincenzo Credendino.
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Transcript
Introduction to Napoli's Transfer Window
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the first transfer the transfer window deep dive club specific one of the summer of 2024 here on the Italian Football Podcast. We decided to start with Napoli given that Antonio Conte, the biggest name in terms of coaching changes ah has been confirmed as the new coach of Napoli. And in and no we could think of no better person to talk about that with, as well as everything else that's happening with Napoli, than our good friend Vincenzo Credendino, who's part of the crew at the Calcio Napoli Venti Quatro TV crew and the site as well. he He
Antonio Conte's Appointment as Napoli Coach
00:00:44
Speaker
was one of our most appreciated guests when we had him on two summers ago, um before before Napoli did all those signings and ended up winning the Scoredetto. So we're very, very thrilled to have him back.
00:00:55
Speaker
Vincenzo, welcome back to the show, how are you doing? Hello Nema, I'm fine, it's a a great pleasure to speak ah with you again, to be again speaking about what's happening in Napoli and what's happening in Italy.
Strategic Moves Behind Conte's Hiring
00:01:13
Speaker
Well there's quite a lot going on in Napoli and let's start with that. Okay, Antonio Conte, I mean, you and I have been talking these past few months on on WhatsApp. We both were like, we didn't believe it at first. So let's start with ah what you in Italian call, Italians call retrocena, the backstory. How did we end up with Antonio Conte at Napoli and Aurelio De Laurentiis? I think we we have to travel in in the past. We have to travel in time and go to last year.
00:01:44
Speaker
Aurelio de Laurentiis always had this this dream, let's call it dream, because at that time it was a dream for for him. ah When he was realizing that Luciano Spalletti at the end was leaving Napoli, he started to think about some coach ah that could give him not only ah some specific features, he was thinking about a coach that could represent an answer to the goodbye of Spaletti, you know. It happened in the past. When Mazzari left, he, ah he bought, let's say bought Benitez. When Sari left,
00:02:32
Speaker
then came Carlo Ancelotti. You know for Aurelio De Laurentiis sometimes the coach is an answer ah to the fans, an answer to the other clubs of Serie A, an answer to the coach himself that is leaving.
Conte's Return to Italy: Motivation and Negotiations
00:02:51
Speaker
So, Conte, we can say it's the answer of Aurelio de la Orientis to the departure of Luciano Spalletti. It was ah very, very difficult, as ah we we were ah writing on on WhatsApp.
00:03:08
Speaker
ah But we understood that the position, the ideas of Antonio Conte ah changed during the months. We started saying that it was ah almost impossible. Then we realized that the conditions were changing, because Antonio Conte always had the idea of coming back in Italy, okay? He wanted to to stay closer to his family that lives in Turin, so he didn't want to go back to Premier League. Actually, he didn't want to work for a mid-table club of Premier League, you know?
00:04:00
Speaker
ah It's one thing to work for CD or Chelsea or United and other thing is working for, I don't know, Westem or Aston Villa. They have ah different objectives. So that's the the point. He wanted to come back in Italy and he started listening to what was ah happening in the transfer market. he knew that Milan was changing his coach, he knew that Juventus was changing Allegri, so just waited and next to the river, we say in Italy, and waiting for what was happening. And then we realized that actually Napoli was the only club who could afford
00:04:55
Speaker
the money who could ah have the the money to ah to buy Antonio Conte.
Conte's Initial Influence and Staff Selections
00:05:03
Speaker
And then since that moment, we are speaking about ah April 2023, and then October 2023, and then again, March 2024, In March 2024, we realized that something was changing. That is the the time I'm referring to. In that month,
00:05:31
Speaker
Conte started to understand that neither Milan, neither Juventus had the the money, and then it came even more and more possible the the chance of ah of Napoli. Now we we understood that Antonio Conte, let's say, ah give ah ah gave a a great discount to Napoli, because at Tottenham, he earned like 15 million per year. And in Napoli, it's like um the health. It's like 7.5 per year. So it's a big discount. But we have to say that Napoli never paid so much money for a coach. So it's ah a great effort from both sides to
00:06:26
Speaker
give Conte the chance to work again on high levels and to give Napoli the best on the market in that time.
Napoli's Transfer Budget and Targets
00:06:40
Speaker
Well, how did the negotiations go on? I mean, in terms of how much power, because we know Antonio Conte wants to have guarantees, how much guarantees and how much power has he been given? Is there a 200 million euro transfer budget? We know, we know as we know, Antonio Conte accepted that Napoli needs to give up another light to the players that are um playing already in Napoli.
00:07:15
Speaker
Antonio Conte accepted that there are some players that need again space, that need again a chance to show everybody their level. So on one end, he accepted that um most of the team is quite good and this is the the base, let's say this, to start from. But ah Antonio Conte already showed he's um his power, let's say his power, because one of the first um requests that he i gave to the Laurentiis was Gabriele Orelli.
00:08:06
Speaker
he showed ah a great perspective of the Napoli ah as ah and as a team, as ah as a club, but because I don't know if he spoke with somebody or he was able to understand this from afar, but the fact that he asked for a manager like Corioli in the team means that he understood what Napoli needed because we are always saying this during the ah past years. We used to say that ah in Napoli we miss
00:08:54
Speaker
a figure that could speak with the players, with the same authority, can speak with the the president and then with the coach. We never had this monopoly and we always had this problem that ah we saw the president speaking directly with the coach And that, in the 90% of the of times, can ah produce problems. With Dori Ali, we already have ah someone between the coach and the president. We already have someone between the coach and the sports director. We have great experience.
00:09:42
Speaker
in a team like Napoli. So this is the first step from which we understand that Antonio Conte is already being Antonio Conte even in Napoli. And the second step is clearly about the objectives of ah of Napoli in the next transfer
Player Negotiations and Challenges
00:10:05
Speaker
window. But I don't know if this is your ah next question or not. Yeah, um I want to talk about this this this transfer budget. I mean, what we know, look, Antonio Conte, Aurelio De Laurentiis, they are the way they are. And we're all kind of watching, waiting for this to yeah to see how this plays out. But I'm sure Conte has been given some guarantees or something specific, otherwise he would never take the job, no?
00:10:32
Speaker
Yes, I'm telling you, the first guarantee is Gabriele Oriali. The second, I don't know if he he has actually other guarantees because you are referring to these twenty million budgets and this This 20 million budget depends clearly on the departure of Victor or Simon. It's very easy to understand. It's 120 from Victor Oseman and the other 80 millions from the last year, from ah what ah Napoli saved ah from last year. So it's very, very ah um easy to think that Napoli has 200 million to spend in in the market. But I would not say that this is a a guarantee for Antonio Conte. It's just the normal budget that a club like Napoli
00:11:28
Speaker
can have. is ah yeah if ah ah Napoli sells Victor Oseman, you know, this is the point. It's just ah about this. ah I would not describe it as a a guarantee for and Antonio Boconte. I would just say that it's the the normal budget of Napoli this year that is selling Victor Oseman and then has 80 millions from the last year. But I would not be surprised if, for example, Napoli ah doesn't spend all
00:11:59
Speaker
of the money. It's not something, you know, it's not a joke because if we see ah in the past years, we understand that for Napoli, trading players is very important and it's the way Napoli survive in this ah world of football. So maybe in Napoli will spend 20, well, 200 millions, but
Potential Transfers and Squad Changes
00:12:28
Speaker
I would not be surprised if, for example, Napoli spends 150. Yeah. Yeah. No, I get that. I get that. Well, let's talk um before we we we get to, because you already mentioned Oriali.
00:12:41
Speaker
um he So so that that was also a question. So Oriali's coming. He's going to have Stellini there as well. So I assume all of his staff has been sorted out, right? his The ones that he wants. Those are the guarantees he's been he's been given with in terms of his staff. Yes. Okay. So before we move on to the other coaches that were linked, um how important was Giovanni Manna, the new Dirator Esportivo, to agree to come to Napoli? I think it was very important, but not in Reaching. OK, I think he was important because he was already of a sign of Napoli project. I am really well, this is normal to to think about it. You know, we have a relative of this.
00:13:31
Speaker
ah thinking about how to ah start again from zero after the 10th position in Serie A of this year. And that we imagine that he is just picking a team that was ah that worked in the past. We know we have ah a man between Mano and Antonio Conte. because Mana worked in Juventus when Conte already left. But we have a man, and the name is Fabio Paratici, that is really close to them, to both of them, to Giovanni Mana and to Antonio Conte. So I imagine, like,
00:14:23
Speaker
Aurelio de la Rente was just trying to replace a model that he saw in Juventus for his team. So I am just saying that all of the project was already clear in the mind of Aurelio de la Rente. Not that manna was um fundamental to have conte, just that the project was that project the project was clear and the fact that Giovanni manna came before Antonio Conte was just because it was easier
Key Players' Future at Napoli
00:15:03
Speaker
to have conte, it's easier to have manna to buy manna than
00:15:09
Speaker
to have the agreement of the Antonio Conte, but I'd rather say that ah it was not consequential. It was a project that starts from the beginning in the mind of Aurelio De La Ventes. Okay. Okay. Well, we were talking, you and I, that Stefano Pioli and Vincenzo Italiano were also linked. I mean, how close were they? And was there anyone else in close to, you know, before Conte became the the choice and and the real choice, so to speak? He was, ah as we said before, ah already he was the dream. Antonio was the dream. yeah But, you know, if if you are the president of Napoli, you cannot play just on one table. No. You have to be prepared because you have a dream. But sometimes the that dream done um doesn't come true. So you have to play on different tables. And on one table, we had Stefano Pioli,
00:16:10
Speaker
There's an Italian agent really close to Stefano Pioli who came in Napoli, I think like two months ago, it was April, to speak with Napoli about some players. It's not hard to imagine that in that meeting with Napoli to speak. ah about some players that already are in Napoli, it was the at the time to understand something about Stefano Pioli. I'm saying this just to say that the the choice of content was, ah ah you know,
00:17:00
Speaker
already um taken but was ah not completed, you know. Napoli was seeing the manager who's friend of Pioli. Meanwhile, Napoli was ah trying to understand the future of Gasperini, Campiero Gasperini, for example. Arello de la Brentis tried to have Gasperini, in, uh, 2012. I, if if I know before 2010, yeah. On 2010. Okay. Uh, when Matsari was leaving. Ah, yes.
00:17:40
Speaker
Already at that time, our Rio de la Orientis wanted a champion of Gasperini, but he at the end, Marzari stayed and Gasperini went to Atalanta and etc. yeah Now he had ah again and and the the wish to to have Gasperini. He waited until the end what Gasperini was doing. Gasperini spoke with Percasi of Atalanta and decided and to ah stay in Bergamo. But ah until the last moment, our Rio de la Orientis was keeping an eye and i on ah Gasperini. And until the last moment, Vincenzo
Transfer Speculations and Player Futures
00:18:22
Speaker
Italiano was waiting for Napoli. Vincenzo Italiano already ah was called by Napoli last year. Well, actually, our Rio de la Orientis spoke with an important international agent.
00:18:38
Speaker
I will not say the name, but we all know that this agent ah is really close to Vincenzo y Italiano, and this agent asked Fiorentina if already last year it Italiano could leave Firenze. Quarantina answered that it was not the right time, and Napoli was respectful. Aurelio de Laurentiis didn't want to bother Comiso, so last year, even if it Italiano already wanted to go to Napoli, Aurelio de Laurentiis decided to respect the position of Rocco Comiso. They never spoke directly. It's just by the work of this manager,
00:19:28
Speaker
who was in an intermediate position. ah But since already last year, Napoli wanted Italiano. This year was something changed. Italiano knew about the interest of Napoli, so was waiting basically a call from Napoli that never came with the necessary ah strength because, as I told you before, Napoli was playing on different tables. And ah let's say that it Italiano was ah the first choice, for example, or ah one of the choices if Antonio Conte was not possible. I understand.
00:20:18
Speaker
Well, thank you. um so um We really need to go into deep on this because it's been it's a fascinating way that this has all played out um with with the coaching merry-go-round, because there were so many waiting. I mean, like you said, in Yove, Milan, um Napoli, you know Bologna, Fiorenti, I mean, there's so many coaching changes in in the Serie A. So so it's it's a fascinating discussion. I want to talk a little bit about just before I leave content, What formation is it said that he's going to play? Is it a 3-5-2 or is it a 3-4-2-1? We actually don't know because we know that Antonio Conte is playing with a defense of three players but we have to leave for us and for him the options to evaluate you know that the team. Something
00:21:15
Speaker
We have to add we have just something because if we know, as we know, that Conte spoke with Bonjourno, if we know, as we know, that Manna spoke with Bonjourno's agent, Giuseppe Rizzo, if we know what we know and we know that Napoli spoke with Hermoso's agent, we have to imagine that Napoli is buying more defensive players. So we have to imagine that probably Antonio Conte will play with a defense on by by three players, you know, three. But we don't know how he's going to play in the midfield. I will try to explain myself.
00:22:07
Speaker
a defense of three men, okay, but we don't know if it will be a three, five, two, or a three, four, three, because in the midfield we have a really specific situation. We have a player whose name is Stanislav Lobotka, a great, a great midfielder, but to be so great he needs to cover a few of space in the field. He's not one of those midfielders that can cover a large part of the pitch. He needs to play in small parts, he needs many players ah around him to be the best version of Stanislav Lobotka. So if we imagine a three
00:23:06
Speaker
5-2, we have a place for Stanislav Lobotka, because with two midfielders around him, he can be in his ideal conditions. If we are looking at a midfield with just two players, Lobotka and let's say Angusa, it will be kind of difficult for him. So, we can imagine a defense of three players okay but we can just imagine this because we actually have to wait
00:23:43
Speaker
sometimes, some news for the market, two and maybe the the start of the season in Andimaro, Napoli will start his pre-season in Andimaro, it's saying in Trentino, in the north of Italy, on the 11th of July, so in one month we can understand, well, before from the transfers, And then in one month we can understand if Conte will play with 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 because we have to know something about the player at this position of Antonio Conte.
00:24:24
Speaker
and that's that's that's That's a very exhaustive and and detailed answer and I think that that's probably how it is. I think a lot of things are up in the air. But I have seen comments from him saying that you know he's he's developed and he he He likes to to change it up. And to be honest, I mean, it's I think he won't be so rigid. um I think he will want to be. I mean, he likes to play his culture vertical. That's how he plays. He likes to play. You know, he's got his very specific movements, but whether it's a three, four, two, one or a three, five, two, I think, like you say, I think that that's sort of still very much up in the air. But let's talk about the Mercado. And I want to start with the number one player who has been rumored to come in, Alessandro Buongiorno. What's the status there?
00:25:08
Speaker
Okay, as ah we said before, Conte spoke with Buongiorno and Mana spoke with Giuseppe Rizzo. That is the Buongiorno's agent. Buongiorno wants to play with Napoli. We can say that Napoli is his first option. I don't know. But something changed when Antonio Conte sat on Napoli's bench. Since that moment, we realized that Alessandro Bonjourno would like to wear Napoli's shirt because he thinks that Antonio Conte is his guarantee for his career. Let's remember that Napoli next year will not play in
00:26:02
Speaker
any European Cup. Usually this is bad stuff for the players that wants to improve their career. But Antonio Conte is his guarantee. So something changed during these months. Some months ago, I would never have said that Bonjourno ah would have liked to play with Napoli. Now I can say this because we understood this because we know that he said to Antonio Conte that he's at this position
00:26:38
Speaker
but missing What's missing? The agreement between Torino and Napoli. We have the yes of Buongiorno, we don't have the yes of Urbano-Cairo. Cairo. Evaluating is a jewel like 35 or 40 million. And at this amount of money, Napoli cannot be sure of the ah investment. So we have to wait. for, we have to wait, Mana's work. Mana will try to have a a discount, will work, will work, will work about this discount. He doesn't have so much time because in one week or less, European Cup for National will start.
00:27:34
Speaker
and we can presume that the value of Bonjourno will increase if he plays fine with the Italian national team. So Mano will try to have a discount until the moment when Aurelio de la Brentis. personally and Urbana Cairo. Personally, we'll close the deal. Until um that moment, we just have to wait and understand something about Manas's work. If he will be able to have a discount with Urbana Cairo, it will not be easy.
00:28:14
Speaker
Wow. Um, so it's already be, it already sounds a bit spicy, doesn't it? Um, it can get, cause we know Antonio Conte doesn't have lots of patience. Um, but lots of another player that's been linked is Romelu Lukaku. We know what Lukaku did with Conte two years together, the best football Lukaku has ever played in his career. He looked like a world-class striker, was one of the best strikers in the world. Is there any ounce of shred of truth to Lukaku to Napoli because De Laurenti's buying players, big wages, who are over 30, that's not never really never happened, has it? Never, and I don't think it will happen, because Romelu Lukaku, it's true, is has a special bond with Antonio Conte. He said this ah even in this week,
00:29:13
Speaker
and this weekend and During the past weeks, he spoke with ah Belgian medias and said that he has a special bond with them Antonio Conte. But we have to face with reality and what we have is a really difficult situation. Chelsea has to sell some players in and Chelsea doesn't have has not so so so much time to do it. The value of Lukaku for Chelsea is around 40 million euros, if I remember correctly. And Napoli will never pay 40 million euros for a player that already passed 30 years. So we have to think about a loan. Exactly. On the other side, Chelsea would do a really stupid thing if
00:30:09
Speaker
in a moment that Lukaku has two years contract, let him go again on a loan because in 12 months from now, Lukaku will be in the same situation of today, but with just one year of contract. and he will be starting just to see ah where to go ah in ah a free transfer. So it would be very stupid from Chelsea to let him go on a loan.
00:30:46
Speaker
We have just to wait in this moment because this is the typical situation then can change in the last days of transfers. You know, Chelsea that waits all the summer for the other way they are waiting a need. Napoli that waits all the summer changing his position and let's see what happens at the end. I imagine that some Arabian Saudi club would come and say okay Romelu
00:31:26
Speaker
Here you have yeah your money. OK, Chelsea, this is your money. And Locaco goes to Saudi League. Otherwise, I just imagine a last day deal, you know? Yeah, one for him. End of Mercado. Yeah. Just quickly, some other links. Federico Chiesa, Nicolas Zagnolo, these are players who have also been linked. I have a really, really difficult time seeing Chiesa and Zagnolo going to Napoli and Conte. What do you think? Well, Zagnolo has a particular situation. I have to say the truth. um I didn't hear of leaks about Zagnolo and Napoli in this moment. I know that the player would like to come back to Italy.
00:32:22
Speaker
who But I have to say that in this moment I didn't hear something linked with Napoli. The point of Federico, the the situation of Federico Chiesa is different. Federico Chiesa has one year of contract with Juventus. He earns a lot, like seven million euros per year. And this is a lot for Juventus. This is a lot for Napoli with a different situation. Juventus has to cut the salaries. Juventus has to sell some players.
00:33:09
Speaker
while Napoli would be really happy to have Federico Chiesa. So the decision is up to Juventus. Juventus has to evaluate, has to think if it's useful, more useful to sell Federico Chiesa during this summer at a price of let's say 25 at the best 30, but I don't know if someone will pay 30 million euros for a player that you can buy for free in six months or wait this year and let him go free during next summer.
00:34:01
Speaker
I imagine that Cristiano Giuntoli, well, I know that Cristiano Giuntoli is an able seller, but really the biggest seller we have in the market in this moment. So if I have to bet on something, I imagine Cristiano Giuntoli that sells Federico Chiesa for $20,000. 25 millions, but I don't know if they sell him to Napoli because Napoli will be a rival of Juventus in in Syria and there is the salary 0.7 million euros is a lot for for Napoli that he that spending a a lot For example for Antonio Conte
00:34:56
Speaker
But we know that there are still some mandatory guidelines. And one of these lines is to pay the new players at the best 3.5 million euros per year. 7 million would be the double of this salary. So we need an exception. We need a a greater effort for for for for Napoli to do this.
00:35:31
Speaker
What about ah Mario Hermoso? I'm hearing that you know he's on a free transfer. Is that something that Napoli have wrapped up? Sure. He had some calls with his agent. We can say that in Europe, the well, in Italy, let's say in Italy, more correct. the prop proposal of Napoli, it's the real one. Only Napoli now in Italy can satisfy ah what Hermoso wants. Hermoso used to earn 4 million euros per year at Atretico Madrid. He was finishing his contract and Atretico Madrid
00:36:22
Speaker
offered 3.5 to sign a new contract. Hermoso didn't want to earn less than in the past, so decided to leave Atretigo Madrid and started to think that he could earn 6 million euros per year with a new team. He was speaking about this with Inter, he realized that Inter is not paying him six million euros per year. So we started to speak with Napoli as well. Napoli at this moment is offering 3.5 plus bonus, some bonus, easily, some easy bonus. And at the moment, the salary of Hermozo in Napoli would be ah more or less four million per year.
00:37:19
Speaker
Inyaki Espizua, his agent, is convinced that he knows that Mario Mosso can do a great job with the Antonio Conte. We have to wait. if Mario Mozzo thinks the same, if Mario Mozzo at the end will accept or not an offer of a salary less than six million euro that he was expecting at the beginning of the summer.
00:37:59
Speaker
So um ah before we move on to players in, I just wanted to ask you, so is has has Napoli wrapped up a replacement for Zielinski yet?
00:38:10
Speaker
he He's working on it. There are a lot of names. There is a name, Javi Guerra. This player plays with Valencia. Earns like... 500,000 euros per year. So his salary would not be a problem for Napoli. He would play with Napoli. well It's normal, a player that plays in Valencia would have a step forward playing with Napoli. We spoke with the some people who know a lot the player and they told us that the play would be that the player would be very happy to wear Napoli shirt. We just i need to understand something about Valencia.
00:39:06
Speaker
Valencia put on him a release clause of 100 million. This is not possible. This is not the correct value of the player. So we understood that with 25 million at the best 30, Napoli would buy Javi Guerra. I don't know if Napoli is really convinced because 30 million is a lot for a a club like Napoli, but this is an option. We could verify at a cultural opportunity.
00:39:45
Speaker
Hmm. That's interesting. Well, is there anyone else, any other player that Napoli has been linked to right now? ah Because personally, when I look at Napoli's squad, I'm thinking you need wing backs. Madzoc is the only natural wing back, no? Well, there is Giovanni di Lorenzo. I don't know if you are not asking ah about him because you know. We're asking about him. We're going to ask ah about him. But that's a separate topic. yeah But natural wing backs. Well, actually, especially if Giovanni di Lorenzo lives, Napoli has to find another winback. We have Zanoli that was on loan this year. It's ah a ah young players um who grew up in Napoli.
00:40:33
Speaker
So this is true. And for this reason, Napoli, especially if Giovanni di Lorenzo will live ah and during this a summer, ah Napoli is looking at Ligon for his replacement. He's looking at Monaco. He's looking at a Brazilian wind back, whose name is Vanderson de Oliveira Campos. He's a a great wind back.
00:41:11
Speaker
All of the Brazilian experts we spoke to are saying that he's already he's ready for a Serie A syria challenge, ah but Monaco is like a jewellery, a jewellery seller, because the the price of this player, even if he's 22, is already of 30 million euros, So we have to wait about this stuff, too. He's a great player. ah But ah I have to repeat that 30 million for Napoli is a a big ah amount. Let's wait. What happened with the the Lorenzo? And then ah we can see if Anderson is ah a concrete name for ah for Napoli.
00:42:05
Speaker
OK, well, let's I was going to talk about ah players leaving, and I think Giovanni de Lorenzo is something we have. I mean, we might start might as well to start with that, because it is such a crazy situation. There's lots of rumors going around as to why he wants to leave. We've heard reports that Antonio Conte spoken to him and said he doesn't want him to leave. He wants him to stay. He wants, you know, he's going to be important for him. all of these things. And then we hear lots of rumors about there's there's off-field issues that want that that is the reason why Diloren so wants to leave Naples and Napoli. He officially, as his agent, decided it's the end of a cycle. He wants to go to Juva because he wants to try something new. what What can you tell us about this situation? What's happened and what do you think will happen? I have to say that in the moment we are speaking,
00:43:01
Speaker
Mario Giuffredi, the Lorenzo's agent, and Antonio Conte and Giovanni Manna are in a hotel in in the city center of Napoli, actually in Corso Vittorio Emanuele. And while we are speaking, they are speaking about the future of Giovanni di Lorenzo. So We have to wait for the next days to understand what will happen, but we can say what happened this during these weeks. Last day of Seria, Giovanni di Lorenzo is going out of the field at his place.
00:43:48
Speaker
Paspana Mazzocchi is going in the field, and half of Stadio di Gormano Maradona ah is booing him, is, you know, whistle, so whistle him. On the next days, the agent of Giovanni de Lorenzo is very, very angry with the club. He thinks that it was a move He thinks that it was a move from Aurelio de la Brenti. He didn't say this, but when he spoke with media, let media understood this. He thinks that it was a plan of Aurelio de la Brenti to make the Deguermanno Maradona stadium whistle sell against Giovanni di Lorenzo. And that moment, he says, Giovanni di Lorenzo doesn't feel
00:44:47
Speaker
The trust doesn't feel the confidence of the Club of Napoli. And without confidence, we have to go. That was the ah sentence of Mario Giuffre. And day by day, we understood that behind this sentence, there was an offer. Juventus, Cristiano Giuntoli, once Giovanni di Lorenzo, Cristiano Giuntoli spoke with Mario Giuffredi and reached an affirmative answer by Mario Giuffredi and Giovanni di Lorenzo. So we can say that Giovanni di Lorenzo already said yes to Juventus, which is the point now. The point is that Giovanni di Lorenzo has four years
00:45:39
Speaker
contract with Napoli and Napoli will not let him go away without paying what Napoli thinks De Laurentiou is worth. you went to how And how much is that how much is that? You went to see in this moment would like to play would like to pay De Laurentiou like 15 or 20 million euros at the best, Napoli starts from 25 or better say 30 millions, because he has four-year contract, because if Napoli ah doesn't earn 30 million by selling the Lorenzo, will be in a very difficult position finding every place to him.
00:46:27
Speaker
So, again, it's just a matter of money and time. If Juventus will be able to pay what Napoli asks, no questions, but we have to consider another possibility, another chance too. Is it possible that, for example, tonight, at the end of the meeting with Conte the Lorenzo, the Lorenzo's agent, Angiovanni Manna, the Lorenzo and his agent will change their idea, maybe signing a new contract and staying in Napoli. Oh, well that's, it's never boring with Napoli. Yeah, that that's why we we keep on working on that.
00:47:19
Speaker
That's brilliant. That's brilliant. um By the time this comes out, we'll have more news on that, but it's a developing story. So yeah it's interesting. It's good to know the background at least. um Let's talk a little bit about Ossemane fwica because it feels a little bit like either Ossemane goes and fwica stays or fwica goes and Ossemane stays. Would you agree with that? ah I would say that creature stays and Oseman goes. Oseman, like he likes to say. yeah oimman yeah yeah yeah yeah we We asked him the the pronunciation of his surname and he answered Oseman.
00:47:58
Speaker
Yeah, or Simon. Pronunciation apart, he earns 10 million. It's bad because it seems that I always speak about money, but this is the truth. Simon earns 10 million per year. This is too much for Napoli. I was saying before that 7 for Giza was a lot. Imagine about 10 million per year. Why? Oseman is earning 10 million per year because last year Roberto Galenda was very able speaking with society telling the club, telling Aurelio de Laurentiis, look, you have a top scorer. You have to pay him like you would pay a top scorer. Aurelio de Laurentiis said, yes, but
00:48:44
Speaker
the top scorer needs a release close. And that's what they put on the new contract. There is a release close of 120 million. For me, it would be very, very difficult to imagine that Aurelio de la Orientis gave him 10 million per year without be sure that he's selling Osimen this year. I think there is ah like a gentleman's agreement or I don't know i you know, how would you like to to call it? But I would bet that Oseman is leaving during this summer. I would say Pégé, but this is just what they what some African sources told me some days ago. I e cannot cancel Arsenal.
00:49:41
Speaker
and the Saudi League from the options for the future of Victor Ozyman in this proper order, Pégé, Arsenal and then Saudi League. Okay, that's that's interesting. So we can count out Chelsea then because we heard those rumours as well. so Yeah, I know. i know ah But you know with Mareska at Chelsea, i I have to say that I don't know. Mareska, ah i would I would think that I would like to to play with another type, you know, of scorer, of another type of forward. So until I don't know exactly that Mariska, like Sosimen, I cannot put Chelsea in, you know, the the race for Victor. No, no. As Vicha will, with this talk of him, you know, he he has to get a new contract, surely.
00:50:41
Speaker
he has too and i think he will who ah quiiavaas scallia earns today 1.5 million a rear. Yeah, yeah. your' He's not mad. The reason I laugh is because Aurelio De Laurentiis, he's he's he's he's he's jesus' a genius. like He's crazy and he's a genius. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree with you. Aurelio De Laurentiis, we have to say I think he will.
00:51:12
Speaker
made a a great job, but you know, having one of the best in Italy italy and paying him ah just one point five. He, you know, um he's realizing this. He's realizing that he cannot have ah ah much longer, which of what Australia at this price. So I think that they are renovating. I e would think about a new salary of ah four million euros. And this would put Picha Guarascalia in ah a better way. He will see his status, his value recognized by the club.
00:52:00
Speaker
And I would not be surprised if they do the same as Victor Ozyman, you know, um giving him a huge salary compared, well, to what he's earning now and then putting a release close for next year. OK, the classic De Laurenti style. the lai style Oh my god, this man. um rasp just just on i mean We heard rumors of Anguissa, but I can't imagine that Antonio Oconte will ever allow Anguissa to leave Napoli. Me neither, but I can imagine Cristiano Giuntoli of Juventus really in love with Anguissa.
00:52:45
Speaker
So I don't have any news about this. I'm just saying that I would bet on an offer from Juventus to Napoli for Angisa. Let's see what happens. ah ah I have to say, I have to agree with you. I don't imagine ah Antonio Conte letting Angisa go go away, but i i will will not be I wouldn't be surprised if Juventus tries to to make an effort for him. I agree. um And Raspadori, I mean, he's someone that Conte wanted already when he was at Inter, so surely he's not going anywhere either.
00:53:30
Speaker
and Raspadori, please again. ah Yeah, um Antonio Conte wanted Raspadori when he was at Inter. Surely Raspadori isn't leaving Napoli this summer. Well, Raspadori is one of the best players according to Aurelio De Laurentiis. I can swear that Arello de la Ruentes always said to Spalletti to make him play said the same to Garcia, said the same to Mazzari, said the same to Calzone. Raspadori is a ah so a resource of the club.
00:54:11
Speaker
Areola Orientis paid a lot for Raspadori, so he doesn't want him to lose his value. And that's the reason, basically the reason for for the fact that I think that Raspadori will stay. I think so too. um I want to talk about some other players that we are a little bit we're unsure on. I think Pasquale Mazzocchi will actually do well under Konta at Napoli. and yeah and I think he will do very very well. Pasquale Mazzocchi is from Napoli.
00:54:52
Speaker
Yeah. So you have not to for forget that he always plays with a a big responsibility. This is good stuff in good moments. This is bad stuff in bad moments. But I i would totally... You know, what you remember the first the first game of Mazzocchi with the Napoli-Cher? Yes, I remember. just after 10 minutes he get he got a red card because he was like a fury in that moment you know so we we can understand that ah if he puts this strength in the correct way he will be very useful for Antonio Conte. Very much true and I think Conte if there's anyone who can channel that kind of energy it's Antonio Conte. Yeah totally.
00:55:46
Speaker
um I wanted to ask you about Jens Kajuste and Jesper Lindstrom, two Scandinavians. Lindstrom, I personally think, given that he's more of a counter-attacking player, he's someone that maybe could work in a 3-4-2-1 for Conte, no? I think he would he would work because Lindstrom is a a very particular player. He likes to play without the ball. ah But he doesn't like to play we in very open spaces. ah he he He's not ah a and player who likes dribbling a lot. he would He's fit for the football of Antonio Conte, I think. ah You know, a very vertical football.
00:56:35
Speaker
Well, I am just speaking about, you know, the football. I remember ah the best of contact saying that the Inter of Antonio Conte. Exactly. Lindstrom in that Inter internet would have done a really great job. Agreed, agreed. But I don't know, and you know, how he's going to play in Napoli. generically theoretically Lindstrom has a space and we have not to forget that Napoli paid a lot last
00:57:08
Speaker
ear So, as we said that Raspadori is a a resource of Napoli, we have to say, I think, something similar for Jesper Lindstrom. Cayuste is different um because Cayuste was picked by Garcia. Cayuste was picked by Michaeli. Cayusto didn't reach an acceptable level this year. According to me, well, if we imagine him as a substitute of Anghisa, he's perfect. But he couldn't reach the level to be on the first 11 in a team like Napoli.
00:57:53
Speaker
So we have to ask ourselves again, what we are we asking to call you? To be a sub of Angista? Okay, he can stay and Antonio Conte will have the the last word. If he wants to be on lineup, maybe it's time to find another and another team. um Natan and Mario Rui are players and Ami Rahmani. I'm thinking they're players that Conte would like to keep. in order to have his six central defenders in left center back center center back and right center back. Would you agree? Yeah. Are you asking me if Conte is looking for other ah central defenders? Yeah.
00:58:41
Speaker
I mean, Natan, and what do you think will happen with Natan? Okay, okay, okay. And we know, we know specifically what will happen with Natan because we spoke with people that's close to him. And they said that Napoli is looking for defensive players. So at least Natan will have a chance in Di Maro with the Antonio Conte. Natan is just waiting. Natan is just waiting for the club to to speak to him. just waiting for ah what Napoli wants from him. If Napoli goes to Natan, to his agent, and say, look, we are thinking about a loan, what do you think? Natan will think about it. But in this moment, we have to imagine that Napoli looking for a center back is a Napoli that ah at least gives a chance to Natan.
00:59:40
Speaker
Agreed. And what about Mario Rui? Do you think Napoli will want to sell him or do you think they'll want to keep him? No, no, he wants to go. He wants to go. He wants to come back ah to Portugal. and Napoli will give him the chance to go back to to Portugal. ja They just have to find a correct option for Arrui. He wants to leave and Napoli ah agreed that he wants to leave. So probably this will be the the summer in which they will greet each other. Okay.
01:00:16
Speaker
And Mateo Politano, there's quite a few players, I mean, Politano, Engong, Simeone, Traore, you know, what can we what can you tell us about them? Because Politano, to me, seems like someone who Conte doesn't want to work with, no? awesome There is Roma, there is the interest of Roma ah on him. let's let's find let's Let's find out what will what will happen. About Engong, he will stay. He did a a great job and I think Conte will give him a chance. About Traore, he will return to Bournemouth. Napoli neither tried to get a discount from Bournemouth because he was not positively impressed by Amél Traore during this month. What about the the last name?
01:01:07
Speaker
Cholito Simeone. Cholito Simeone. He wants to play. He wants to play. He wants to be a first line up. There is a chance he can go to Torino. He he would ah he would agree that with it because he considered himself ah like a scorer that needs to be first 11. He's happy. of his experience in Napoli. He won Scudetto, but now what he wants is to play more. So Lazio, Torino, and maybe other teams can be his ah next team. If I have to say today, if I have to bet one cent, I would bet on he' his departure from Napoli.
01:01:57
Speaker
And if he's going to Torino, you got Bongiorno there, maybe. At the point. And also, because it's it's it's like when we're talking, I mean, you know, we if I always say like this, when it comes to the three most difficult, ball-busting um Italian football presidents, the third is Lottito. Second is Cairo. And then number one is Aurelio Lattice. Yeah, I agree. He's the last level boss. Yeah, yeah, it's Bose of Super Mario. Exactly, exactly, exactly. So now, Cairo and De La Rente's working together is going to be very interesting. Yeah, yeah so yeah it will be entertaining. What what about the goalkeeping position? Because there's been lots of, there's been rumors back and forth about Merit. Do you think he'll stay or do you think, what do you think is going to happen there? He wants to be, he wants to feel the confidence. He wants to be, to feel the trust of Napoli.
01:02:55
Speaker
um They will sign a and new contract only if Napoli swears that he will have ah he not have ah another goalkeeper like ah Ospina or like ah you know other goalkeepers that um took him too much space. i e i am I don't know, because I think that ah we are right at a brick point for Meret. I am sure that merit if Meret goes in other teams, he will play much way better than he does in Napoli, just because in Napoli the situation is really ah complicated for him in ah in this moment. So let's let's see what happens at the moment, sources,
01:03:43
Speaker
uh near to the players told us this he wants to stay but just with um just if Napoli swears that he will be titular he will be first lineup this year next year okay well Is there any other player in the squad that is ah is is going to be sold, do you think? Juan Jesus, we know he's played in a back three before. you know war Any other player who you can give us any information on? Let me think about it. OK, Golini, I think he will go.
01:04:20
Speaker
ah As we said before, Navel is looking for a centre-back, so I would say that Juan Jesus and Osti Garda will stay. Mattia Solivera will stay. Let's see what happens with Lobotka. We spoke about Cayuste. ah No, I think we pretty spoke. You covered everything. yeah Vincenzo, thank you, as always, for coming on. This has been so interesting. And and just to get understand how Napoli works, the club and and how De Laurentiis works, and and all of this is is truly, truly, truly fascinating. It's a pleasure. And and thank if people want to follow you on social media, what's your handle on on Twitter so people can follow you? Vincicrede is the same on Twitter and Instagram.
01:05:15
Speaker
OK, well, I'm going to tag you on both both of those places when we put this out. um So thank you so much. ah You should definitely check out Calcianapoli 24 TV and also the site. They do fantastic work. They are the source that I follow when I want to know what's happening at Napoli. And Vincenzo and his colleagues are are brilliant at that. So thank you once again for coming on Vincenzo. Thanks a lot, Nima. Thanks to everybody. Have a nice time. um Everybody else will be back ah tomorrow with an interview with Paulins, previewing Euro 2024. Carla will be back later on in the week to ah to to to to do a post-match reaction ah after Italy plays Albania. Both of those things are for patrons only. So go on patreon dot.com slash TIFP, $2.99 a month.
01:06:04
Speaker
um Thank you again, Vincenzo. Thank you everybody else. We'll talk to you next time. Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other. Ciao, ciao.