Napoli joins the race for World Cup surprise

The long contract – expiring in 2026 – does not facilitate the skillful Giuntoli’s plans

Hailed by all insiders for the masterful buying campaign carried out last summer – not only did players such as Kvaratskhelia and Kim arrive at relatively low prices, but the previous wage bill was also lowered by 70 percent – Napoli’s DS Cristiano Giuntoli is already studying the next surprise coup.

Unfortunately for the able Azzurri executive’s plans, so much surprise Azzedine Ounahi is no more. The Moroccan midfielder, the real revelation of the Qatari World Cup, is now sought by almost all the big clubs in Europe. Giuntoli, truth be told, already had his eye on the Angers player months ago. The plan, ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ reveals, would have been to lock the player down in January with a view to his arrival in Naples in July. The pre-World Cup valuation of less than 10 million, however, is now a distant memory.

Ounahi, also on the strength of a contract that binds him to the transalpine club until 2026, is now worth more than twice as much: Angers will not let him leave for less than 20 million, in short.