Napoli had a chance to reinforce itself with a smart strike, but hesitated too long. Now Juventus is ready to take advantage, adding quality to its defense
Napoli, che rimpianto: l’ha snobbato a gennaio, ora lo prende la Juve (Foto: Ansa/LaPresse) – serieanews.com
The January market is that crazy period when teams try to fix the troubles accumulated in the previous months. There are those who take advantage of bargains and those, on the other hand, who stand by and then eat their hands. Here, Napoli ended up in the second category.
After a disastrous autumn, a turnaround was needed. Antonio Conte had asked for clear reinforcements: a solid defender and a striker who could provide real alternatives. Result? A hastily made incoming operation – Okafor to replace Kvaratskhelia, sold with questionable timing – and a defense left at the mercy of events.
Yet, a simple solution was there. Diego Coppola, class of 2003, a defender who would have solved the problem without too many bureaucratic entanglements. But Napoli hesitated, stalled, waited. And now who is preparing to get him? Juventus.
In January, everything revolved around Danilo’s arrival. The Neapolitan leadership was convinced that the Brazilian would accept the transfer, so much so that no real alternatives were considered. Then, however, the Juventus captain changed his mind, and the house of cards collapsed.
In a general panic, an attempt was made to get Comuzzo from Fiorentina, but the purple club shot high, too high. And so Napoli was left holding the bag. At that point, the need for a defender was obvious, but regulatory constraints blocked any move. Rafa Marín, a redundancy Conte did not want, would not free up a slot on the list because he was considered under.
And that is where Coppola comes in. The 2003 class from Verona would have been perfect: young, futuristic and, above all, purchasable without impacting the roster. A 10 million euro deal, an affordable figure for Napoli’s coffers. But nothing, it was preferred to wait.
Coppola nel mirino della Juve: un’altra beffa per il Napoli
Meanwhile, Coppola has continued to play, to grow, to impress. The latest evidence? That against Juventus, a match that sparked something in Giuntoli’s head. The Juventus executive, always on the lookout for emerging talent, decided not to waste any time.
Coppola nel mirino della Juve: un’altra beffa per il Napoli (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
Now Juve has begun to put him in their sights in a defensive revamp that sees on the shortlist another who could become a Napoli Regretter namely Alessandro Zanoli. Coppola’s price is still around 10 million, an amount Juve can easily invest for such a talent. And Napoli? It finds itself watching, aware that it has missed a golden opportunity.
Not only has Naples left a crucial role in the roster uncovered, but now it risks seeing Coppola strengthen a direct competitor. And all this for what? For uncertainty, for an excess of caution that could ultimately prove to be an unforgivable mistake.
If indeed Coppola ends up in Turin, he will be yet another regret of a January market managed with more doubts than certainties. Because in soccer, those who wait too often come up empty-handed. And this time, Napoli waited too long.
This article Napoli, what a regret: snubbed him in January, now Juve gets him appeared first on SerieANews.
