Napoli, Meret’s agent: Conte wants another first-choice keeper | OneFootball

The renewal of Alex Meret until 2027 was not just a formal act, but the result of a direct, transparent, and unfiltered discussion with Antonio Conte.

Napoli, Meret, the agent: “Conte was very clear before the renewal. I want another first goalkeeper“

Federico Pastorello, the agent of the Napoli goalkeeper, shared the behind-the-scenes details during an interview with Tuttomercatoweb. His words shed light on a negotiation managed with extreme sincerity by the coach, who from the start had indicated a specific technical direction to the club.

The dialogue with Conte: a clear and unambiguous confrontation

Pastorello recalls the conversation from last summer: “It was all very clear with Napoli and especially with the coach. Conte is an extremely direct person, and precisely because of this, you rarely have problems because he tells you things clearly from the start.”

Then the revelation: “Before renewing, the coach made this clear to me. He said: ‘I told the club that they need to renew Meret’s contract, but be aware that I have asked the club to get another first goalkeeper with different characteristics. Then I will manage them based on the type of match.’”

Strong words, but they had a decisive effect: offering Meret a clear, sincere picture without any gray areas. Exactly what the goalkeeper and his entourage wanted before making such an important decision.

The renewal as a technical choice, but above all an emotional one

According to Pastorello, the extension did not happen by chance, but after fully understanding Conte’s new technical setup. Meret knew that the summer would bring changes and increased competition, but he chose to stay for reasons beyond the field.

“Before signing, Alex knew this. The reality is that he is very attached to the city and the club. Napoli brought him to the National team, gave him great satisfaction, and in turn, he gave great satisfaction to the Neapolitan fans. His was truly a choice from the heart.”

Words that paint the portrait of a professional who embraced the Napoli project even in the face of having to fight for his position.

The arrival of Milinkovic-Savic: competition as normality

The path set by Conte was confirmed shortly after the renewal: Napoli invested over twenty million euros to bring Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from Torino. The coach’s idea was clear from the start: to have two high-level goalkeepers with different characteristics to alternate them based on the type of match.

Pastorello emphasizes how Meret was prepared for this evolution and how he willingly accepted the internal competition, aware of the club’s trust and the importance Napoli has had in his career.

The injury and management: full trust from the coach

Unfortunately, the current season saw Meret sidelined due to an injury, but the agent clarifies that when the goalkeeper was fit, Conte indeed gave space to both, respecting the premises of the summer discussion.

“Now the injury has come, he is unavailable, but as long as he was well, the coach gave space to both.”

A management style that confirms Conte’s philosophy: high internal competitiveness, clarity in roles, and meritocracy as a fundamental principle.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.