Napoli and Bologna will go head-to-head for the signature of wantaway Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi. According to Calciomercato, the Italian is desperate to return home following a disappointing spell in Canada.
Bernardeschi left Juventus to join Major League Soccer franchise Toronto in 2022 alongside former Napoli hero Lorenzo Insigne. However, their move to the BMO Field has failed to produce the desired impact. Indeed, the Reds couldn’t qualify for playoffs in the first season.
Barring a major development down the final stretch of the 2023 campaign, Toronto will miss out on MLS playoffs again. Therefore, Bernardeschi is homesick and wants out. As a ‘Designated Player,’ the 29-year-old is amongst the league’s highest earners.
Neither Bologna nor Napoli can pay him such hefty wages. But the player’s desire to play in Serie A again could aid their cause. Thiago Motta’s men have already established contact with the winger’s representatives to discuss a potential deal.
While Bologna remain the frontrunners in the race to land the Fiorentina academy graduate, Napoli could still spoil their plans. The Rossoblu have yet to find an agreement with Bernardeschi, leaving the newly-crowned Serie A champions some wriggle room.
Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis admires Bernardeschi. And with Hirving Lozano touted for a summer departure, he could soon make a move to bring the Italian star to the Diego Maradona Stadium. It’s still only a theory, but things could change rapidly.
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