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2020 was the year of Rino Gattuso’s new course for Naples. Taking over from Carlo Ancelotti in December 2019, the celestial coach had it clear from his presentation: 4-4-2 was not the right way for him, 4-3-3 that Napoli had in their blood and would be immediately returned to that stage. The tactical considerations of the new coach were obviously reflected in the market, beginning with the January 2020 session that marked a real revolution in the roster at his disposal.
CHANGE – Ancelotti’s Napoli did not need a balancer in the middle, but for Gattuso there was nothing more important. Sold Jorginho in the summer of 2019, the blue club at the request of his coach had decided not to replace him, but with the arrival of Ringhio – and therefore six months late – in January the first shot concerned this slot. Diego Demme and Stanislav Lobotka arrived immediately for about 35 million euros in two. But it was only the dawn of the revolution that would continue in the next session. In winter Cristiano Giuntoli and Aurelio De Laurentiis also gave the coach a new attacking weapon, Matteo Politano, fundamental in the interpretation of the 4-3-3 Gattusiano, with the outsiders entering the middle of the field. And it didn’t end like that. Napoli went ahead with the job, hiring (and paying) Andrea Petagna and Amir Rrahmani for June as well. The dawn of a new summer disorder.
ONE SHOT FOR GOLD – Six months ago the summer began with the feeling that the revolution had yet to continue. To unleash it definitively, leading Napoli to a new convulsion also from a tactical point of view, Victor Osimhen was bought from Lille, soon renamed ‘Mister 70 million’, the most expensive hit in the history of Neapolitan society. The French team is paid 70 million in fixed part (to be paid in five years) and ten million in bonuses not easily accessible (linked to future placements of Napoli in the Champions League). The forward 4.5 million euros plus bonuses per season until 2025. Of the 70 million to be paid to the transalpine club, 20 million are obtained from a parallel operation led by Orestis Karnezis and three Primavera players in France. A complex, expensive and fundamental operation for the rebirth of Napoli. Accompanied, then, by another masterpiece of the Neapolitan transfer market: Tiemoué Bakayoko on loan to give muscle and strength to a very thin midfield.
MISTAKES – The 2020 blue market was certainly not all smooth. There are also losses and markdowns, like Allan’s at Everton. And then there were also mishandled cases, one above all: Arkadiusz Milik. Given that the contract expires in June 2021, it is good practice for a club never to negotiate with a player one year after the expiration, especially if there are old unfinished business to resolve with the squad. Napoli did not succeed and for three-quarters of the year, at least until August-September, they tried to convince the Polish striker to extend the contract. Failing to do so, he put it on the market, but could not sell it for various reasons, mainly related to the high wall erected by De Laurentiis on the issue of fines. A step back at that point, perhaps, would have allowed Napoli to avoid a case that, it is now certain, will see no winners.
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