After speculations about several candidates, Napoli have zeroed in on Giovanni Manna to serve as their sporting director, replacing Mauro Meluso in their front office. They have struck a verbal agreement with the up-and-comer, Sky Italy informs.
The Azzurri will have to wait for the green light from the Old Lady since he has another year on his contract. It’s de facto the reverse of last summer’s impasse when the Scudetto holders waited until the last moment to free up Cristiano Giuntoli.
The 36-year-old paid his dues behind the desk in Switzerland before moving to Turin. He’s been instrumental in managing the Next Gen squad in recent years and was the top official for a brief stretch amid the ‘plusvalenze’ sentences and the arrival of the veteran official.
If Napoli got their wish, Manna will take over in July. They’ll pick a new coach way before that. Vincenzo Italiano is currently the leader in the clubhouse due to a process of elimination.
According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Partenopei haven’t been able to convince Antonio Conte yet. They touched base with Xabi Alonso, but he’ll stay at Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool and Bayern Munich also courted him. The Partenopei are keen on Belgium’s Domenico Tedesco too.
Our Take on Napoli and Manna
It’d be funny if Juventus made them sweat like they did last summer, but it probably won’t be the case. If those hirings go through, it signifies they won’t brute-force a return to winning ways.
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