Napoli should finally field their new rearguard in Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Sporting Braga. Natan was slated to debut against Genoa.

Napoli Formally Complete the Acquisition of Natan

Natan is a new Napoli player. The team deposited his contract at the League’s offices and then announced his arrival. The purchase of the youngster ends a saga that saw the Partenopei weigh a host of options to replace Kim Min-Jae. Their previous star joined Bayern Munich, which activated his €50M release clause.

Per AdnKronos, the Azzurri paid €10M to acquire the center-back from RB Bragantino. The 22-year-old has made 80 appearances in the Brazilian Serie A.

Napoli coach Rudi Garcia explained why they targeted Natan in a presser Sunday (via Corriere dello Sport).

“He’s a young Brazilian defender who was raised by Flamengo and then joined RB Bragantino. We are well aware of how the Red Bull teams are, Leipzig and Salzburg. They know football and their prospects run and pressure a lot. He’s not afraid to be aggressive and leave room behind him.”

Our Take on Napoli Signing Natan

They had been linked to so many options that it felt like none was the right one, and, in fact, they went for a shot in the dark. Their scouting department shouldn’t be underestimated, especially after they flexed their muscle last summer. They didn’t have monetary problems, so this was primarily a technical choice. Even though it’s a risky one, unearthing prodigies is their bread and butter. They are more comfortable with that than with splurging.

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