Napoli and Getafe have reportedly reached an agreement over Mathias Olivera’s switch to Serie A following their failed attempt to land Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Partenopei will pay the Spaniards €1m for a season-long loan with an obligation to buy at €11m, plus €3m in add-ons.
However, Olivera will remain at Getafe for the remainder of the season before completing his move to Napoli in the summer. Luciano Spalletti has been in the market for a new left-back to add competition to his defensive department.
Mario Rui and Faouzi Ghoulam have struggled with injuries this season, forcing Spalletti’s hand in the transfer market. Napoli were initially keen on signing Tagliafico, but the Ajax star has his heart set on joining Barcelona in the final days of the January transfer window.
After admitting defeat in the race to sign the Argentina international, the Partenopei has shifted their attention towards Olivera, who has enjoyed a decent La Liga season so far. The 24-year-old has established himself as a permanent first-team fixture at the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, making 19 top-flight appearances this term.
Given Getafe’s unrelenting efforts to avoid relegation this season, Napoli seem to have failed to convince the Spaniards to let Olivera leave this winter. So Spalletti will have to make the most out of his current left-back options as the Partenopei hope to dethrone Inter in Serie A come May.
Napoli currently trail Simone Inzaghi’s men by four points, albeit the Nerazzurri have a game in hand. But with Inter set to take Milan in a mammoth Serie A showdown next weekend, the southern giants are growing confident of their title prospects.