5 market shots that fell through in the winter session
5 colpi di mercato sfumati all’ultimo minuto: quando il sogno diventa beffa – SerieAnews
The 2025 winter soccer market closed on February 3, and with it also came the usual surprises, twists and turns, and, inevitably, a few deals blown up at the last minute. Although this market window is often considered less glamorous than the summer one, in recent years we have witnessed deals that had the potential to change the balance of the season. But, as is always the case, for every completed purchase, there is one that fades away. Here is a selection of five deals that seemed done, but ultimately did not see the light of day.
Danilo al Napoli: il colpo sfumato per la famiglia
Juventus seemed ready to revolutionize with the arrival of Thiago Motta on the bench, and among the most illustrious victims of this restructuring was Danilo himself. The Brazilian defender, who had lost his starting job and captain’s armband, seemed destined to leave Turin for a new adventure at Napoli, always looking for a reinforcement for the defensive department.
Danilo al Napoli: il colpo sfumato per la famiglia (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
The negotiation seemed to be one step away from conclusion, with the player even open to the idea of moving to a historic rival. However, at the very last moment, Danilo chose not to betray the Juventus jersey and return to Brazil, to Flamengo, to be close to his family. A decision that surprised many, but certainly spared Juve an “internal” market hit that would have been controversial.
Kevin Danso: tra la Juventus, il Wolverhampton e il Tottenham
Another telenovela that has held sway throughout the month of January concerns Kevin Danso, the Austrian defender on loan from Lens. After his famous meeting with Roma last summer, where medical examinations were failed due to a heart abnormality, the defender seemed destined for a change of scenery.
Kevin Danso: tra la Juventus, il Wolverhampton e il Tottenham (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
Juventus had struck a deal with the player, but Lens seemed unwilling to lower its financial demands. Meanwhile, Wolverhampton had pleased all parties, putting about 23 million euros on the table. When the negotiation seemed done, however, Tottenham popped up, convincing Danso to revise his plans and choose Spurs. A decision that displaced not only Wolverhampton, but also Juventus itself.
Francesco Camarda: il “condor” beffato
Francesco Camarda, a promising talent from Milan, has been one of the most talked-about names in recent market weeks. The young striker seemed ready to move on loan to Monza, where he would have more opportunities to play in a team fighting for salvation.
Francesco Camarda: il “condor” beffato (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
The deal was practically done, but surprisingly, Milan decided to keep the player, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing an instrumental role in changing the Rossoneri management’s mind. Camarda therefore remained in the Milan ranks, but who knows if he will have found time to explode as he could have done at Monza.
Cesare Casadei: Serie A ma niente Lazio
Struggle between Lazio and Torino for talented youngster Cesare Casadei, formerly of Inter Milan and now at Chelsea. The midfielder, who was looking for more space, seemed destined for one of the two Italian teams.
Cesare Casadei: Serie A ma niente Lazio (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
Lazio had practically taken him, but Casadei surprised everyone by choosing Torino, where he would also find space thanks to the departure of Ivan Ilic. It was a move that left Lazio stunned, and they were forced to veer to other targets. Will this be a regret for Baroni’s team? Time will tell.
Allan Saint-Maximin: l’intoppo burocratico ferma il Napoli
Napoli, which was looking for a replacement for Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s departure, had its eye on Allan Saint-Maximin, a French winger currently with Al-Ahli. It looked like a done deal, with the Neapolitan club getting a major shot in the arm to strengthen the attack.
Allan Saint-Maximin: l’intoppo burocratico ferma il Napoli (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
But again, something went wrong: bureaucratic problems and timing related to medical examinations blew up the deal at the very last minute. Alternatively, Napoli closed for Noah Okafor, but the Saint-Maximin deal left a big question mark on the future of the Azzurri market.
Cosa ci riserverà il futuro?
Every market session brings us surprises, and the winter market is no exception. Hidden in these blown trades are missed opportunities, but also choices that could turn out to be significantly more beneficial for the teams involved. The mystery remains: who would have made the biggest impact among these players? And how many more negotiations will fade at the last minute in the coming months?
This article 5 market shots blurred at the last minute: when the dream becomes a hoax appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
