Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli voiced his satisfaction with how the season was going and shared some backstories about the transfer market in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.
He confirmed the presence of a release clause in Kim Min-Jae’s contract.
“It exists, and it can be activated only by foreign sides. It’s not €50M, as it variable and can increase. It depends on the revenue of the prospective buyer. It comes into effect only for 15 days next July. But it’s a theoretical matter, because we are already working to change those terms.”
Giuntoli anticipates Luciano Spalletti coaching Napoli for a while.
“His deal expires in June, but we have an option to extend it for another year. There’s no rush. Twenty months are an eternity.”
The official revealed they could have signed Erling Haaland a few years ago.
“We had already prepared the contract with RB Salzburg. We would have exercised his €25M exit clause. But he preferred going to Borussia Dortmund, and we purchased Victor Osimhen. They were neck-and-neck on our shortlist.”
Giuntoli reflected on the squad and the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“The roster was put together with effort, competence and the courage of the ownership. We had a project and executed it. The pandemic forced us to change, as it reduced our resources. President Aurelio De Laurentiis had invested a lot in previous years.”
“We pursued him in 2021, but Rubin Kazan asked for €30M at the time. We backed out. Then the war in Ukraine and the move to Dinamo Batumi lowered his valuation, and we tried again. We had a pre-existent relationship with his camp. There’s mutual liking and esteem. We’ll be together for the next four-and-a-half years.”
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