Napoli Duo Forced to Stay Due to a Lack of Additions

The Cult of Calcio

·4 February 2025

Napoli Duo Forced to Stay Due to a Lack of Additions

Giacomo Raspadori and Rafa Marin would have likely left Napoli this January if the Partenopei made more purchases. Instead, Antonio Conte nixed their exits given their lack of reinforcements. They only added Noah Okafor on loan from Milan very late.

Tullio Tinti, the agent of the former, spoke to Sky (via SOSFanta).

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“He would obviously like to play a little more, but the coach was clear with him. We tried to create an opening until the end. They are top of the league and, from their standpoint, he’s an important alternative to their attacking midfielders. He’s still happy and hopes to win another Scudetto.”

While Marin would have joined Villarreal had Napoli acquired Pietro Comuzzo or another defender, a few teams eyed Raspadori.

“Between Juventus and Roma, the Bianconeri were closer to signing him. But Olympique Marseille were in the running as well.”

Our Take on Napoli, Raspadori, and Marin

It’s a tough spot as Conte has no real need to rotate without the cups and because of the elite quality of the starters. While the former is almost a finished product, it’s particularly detrimental for a young defender, who needs to play to hone in on his craft. Not signing any defender, as a reliable veteran would have sufficed, to allow him to leave after pocketing a rich sum is almost malpractice.

The attacker would have been an interesting weapon in Thiago Motta’s hands, especially as a false nine like in a few stretches under Luciano Spalletti. He was likely mutually exclusive with Randal Kolo Muani. The Old Lady is surely content with how things are going there.