Napoli under fire: €40m for Lucca, Inter land Bonny cut-price | OneFootball

The 1-0 defeat at Torino’s ground reignites the debate over Napoli’s transfer market moves. Claudio Savelli, writing in the pages of Libero, critically analyzes the choices made by the Azzurri management and Antonio Conte.

Napoli, transfer market under fire: 40 million for Lucca, doubts about Milinkovic and Conte’s management. Inter smiles with Bonny at half price

According to the analysis, the Neapolitan club spent a lot without actually solving the real gaps in the squad.

“Napoli got a bit carried away with this urge to bring in reinforcements,” writes Savelli. “They spent a lot and, in some cases, too much.”

Lucca, a 40 million investment that doesn’t convince

Lorenzo Lucca is the symbol of Napoli’s expensive transfer market. Bought for 35 million plus 5 in bonuses, the striker doesn’t seem able to meet Conte’s demands.

He doesn’t hold up in comparison to players like Højlund or Bonny, the latter purchased by Inter for 23 million plus 3 in bonuses. Savelli points out how Lucca struggles to interpret the required role: “He can’t do the job Conte asks for – holding up the ball with his back to goal, cleaning it up, being technically precise – nor what Højlund offers, that is, making runs in behind.”

The result is an attack that lacks incisiveness, where Lukaku remains the only real reference point. But the journalist wonders what would happen “if Lukaku had gotten injured after the transfer window closed: Lucca is not up to the task.”

Milinkovic and the phantom full-back: money poorly spent

Another central issue: the 20 million spent on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. A deal Savelli calls “not very functional,” because it didn’t address one of the team’s real urgencies.

“That money,” he writes, “would have been more useful for a right-back.” A clear shortcoming, given that Giovanni Di Lorenzo is forced to play all the time, despite some technical and physical limitations, and that Lang is only used “in desperate situations, the worst for gaining confidence.”

Making the balance sheet even more bitter is the sale of Caprile for less than half the investment made on Milinkovic, a decision many fans still haven’t come to terms with.

Conte’s choices: fixations and tactical risks

The coach from Lecce is not exempt from criticism. Some lineup decisions, according to Savelli, appear questionable. “Playing Juan Jesus when Buongiorno is available is a gamble,” he observes. “Torino, and the former Simeone, thank you.”

Meanwhile, players like Marianucci, leader of the Under 21s, remain on the bench, even though they would deserve more playing time. The coach’s choices seem influenced by his trust in men who have already accompanied him to success in the past.

Inter and Bonny, the other side of the coin

While Napoli reflects on its spending and the performance of its new signings, Inter smiles. Ange Bonny, who arrived for about 23 million, is impressing with his impact and performances. An amount almost half of what was paid for Lucca, but with a far superior contribution on the pitch so far.

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