Paolo Cannavaro: “I never had a plan B, I only ever wanted Napoli” | OneFootball

Paolo Cannavaro opens up without filters to La Gazzetta dello Sport, retracing a career made of waiting, sacrifices, and an unbreakable bond with his city and the blue jersey.

Paolo Cannavaro: “I never had a plan B, I only wanted Napoli”

“I grew up at Napoli and until the youth teams, I never played,” recalls Cannavaro, who, however, never stopped believing: “I never had a plan B, I wanted to make it.” The right opportunity came and changed everything, starting a journey that would lead him to become captain and a symbol of Napoli’s rebirth.

The return, the wounds, and redemption

Returning to Napoli was a choice from the heart: “I told my agent not to consider other offers. I only wanted Napoli, I didn’t care about the division.” Promotion from Serie B is an unforgettable moment, as is the pain of the whistles in 2009: “I was a target, precisely because I was Neapolitan.” A wound never forgotten, but redeemed by an iconic image: “I lifted a trophy as captain, in my city.”

Betting scandal and missed opportunities

Cannavaro also revisits the betting scandal: “A nasty story, I did nothing,” recalling his acquittal and the goal on his return. Finally, the missed move to Manchester City: “It fell through because Napoli asked for too high a fee.” What remains is the pride of having fulfilled the dream of a child in love with Napoli.

Antonio Karol Giordano

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