Napoli Sign Nine Players to Revamp Squad
Left to right (top down): Calafiori, Gnonto, Pafundi, Diomande, Tonali (center), Emegha, Faye, Rovella, Valentin
Napoli have completed the busiest window in club history to prepare the squad for Sonia Bompastor's football, with nine incoming transfers to fill a variety of positions:
Riccardo Calafiori - 27 - LB - Atletico Madrid - €58.6M
Napoli signed Calafiori to provide an upgrade to Uruguayan left-back, Mathias Olivera in the position. Calafiori is a physical and technical beast, capable of playing left-back as well as center-back, and has the ability to tuck into midfield in a falseback role in the rest defense, something that has become critical to Bompastor's system throughout her career.
Wilfried Gnonto - 25 - LM - Real Betis - €63.4M
Gnonto is an explosive athlete, who Bompastor had experience dealing with up close last season at Real Madrid when he was at Betis. With Napoli's squad aging, pace out wide was a serious area that hte club lacked in, and they've solved that on the left hand side with this move.
Simone Pafundi - 23 - RM - SV Werder Bremen - €35.0M
Similar to the Gnonto transfer, this was about bringing in pace and dynamism on the wing. Being left-footed, Pafundi is well suited to the inverted winger role on the right side. He has been underlooked throughout his career for his size (stands just 5'5), but is an excellent dribbler who has that added value of being very effective at set pieces.
Ousmane Diomande - 25 - CB - Nottingham Forest - €65.0M
Diomande is another player who has been consistently overlooked. The Ivorian was integral to Ruben Amorim's back three system at Sporting, but was never able to get a move to a big club, eventually choosing to ply his trade with Forest in the Premier League. Napoli presents an opportunity for him to showcase himself again to the European elite, both within Serie A and the Champions League. He is extremely strong and highly skilled as a passer and should pair superbly with first choice LCB Alessandro Buongiorno.
Sandro Tonali - 29 - CDM - FC Barcelona - €20.0M + Zubimendi
Tonali represented an excellent market opportunity for both Napoli and Barcelona. Both Zubimendi and Tonali had a strong desire to return to their home nations of Spain and Italy respectfully, and the two clubs were able to make that happen with this swap deal. Tonali was once dubbed the new Pirlo, and will step right into the #6 role in Bompastor's 4-1-3-2.
Emanuel Emegha - 26 - ST - LOSC Lille - €45.0M
Emanuel Emegha has freakish measurements. The Dutch-Nigerian is extremely tall at 6'5, an incredible leaper and absolutely rapid. The left footed striker will pair excellently with Lautaro Martinez who will play as a withdrawn false 9, while Emegha assumes the role of advanced forward/poacher.
Mikayil Faye - 25 - CB - Las Palmas - €18.4M
Another player who Bompastor was able to personally scout while in LaLiga, Faye, will add depth at LCB behind Buongiorno. He was relegated with Las Palmas last season, but the Senegalese defender is very talented and should prove to be an important rotational piece for Napoli this season.
Nicolo Rovella - 27 - CM - Newcastle United - €85.7M
The most expensive signing of the summer in terms of the actual fee, Nicolo Rovella is absolutely tailor made for the #8 role in Bompastor's system. He possesses sublime passing and dribbling ability, and is an incredibly hard worker in and out of possession. The combination of him and Tonali in midfield instantly creates a robust Italian core in Naples.
Christophe Valentin - 18 - GK - Olympique Lyon - €1.8M
Valentin was Sonia Bompastor's only academy promotion during her time at Lyon, but he is an incredibly interesting one. The former striker turned goalkeeper stands 6'9, and his rare combination of ball playing skills, physical attributes and shot stopping potential, make him one of the most interesting prospects in the world in the position. He will be cover for first choice keeper, Stefano Turati, with the opportunity to play cup games early on.
vs. 
Endrick (RMA)
M. Olise (RMA)
2 - 1 
0 - 2 
1 - 1 
(Lazio 5-4 pens)
0 - 1 
