Napoli Summer Transfer Tidbits

By: fortunato | June 2nd, 2008

What a blow for the national team losing my hero Fabio Cannavaro after a nasty collision with Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini during the Azzurri’s first training session earlier today. Cannavaro’s ankle injury will keep him out of the entire Euro 2008 tournament. I am shattered and rattled but not broken and still think the team has the talent and the depth to replace him and continue on in their pursuit of the Euro title.

On to better news, here are the latest tidbits in Napoli’s summer transfer activities:

1. It appears all but official that Palermo defender Leando Rinaudo is a partenopeo. From all accounts my Palermo friends have advised me that the 25 year old is quite the talent and they are rather disappointed to see him leave since many were banking on him replacing the recently departed Andrea Barzagli (who signed with VLF Wolfsburg). Rinuado’s signing likely makes it official that Maurizio Domizzi is a goner. Rinaudo is a native Palermitano and the slender defender tallied 2 goals in 22 games!!

2. I’m not that this tidbit is accurate but nonetheless Goal.com has reported that in early May, Napoli had signed 23 year old Argentinean midfielder Tomas Costa who played with the Rosario Central team this past season. In 16 games, the 6’1” player scored 1 goal. Other Internet sites state that Costa had signed with Porto of the Portuguese league for a transfer fee of 3.2 million euros. Whose right?

3. Rumor has it that Roma and Napoli are very interested in swapping assets in Gennaro Iezzo to the giallorossi in exchange for the seldom used, native Napoletano Mauro Esposito. The 29 year old striker would give us some serious depth in the position but it has been a while since he was a starter and his best years were enjoyed with Cagliari where he spent 6 years as a regular. As for San Gennaro, Roma has made no secrets that they want to beef up the keeper position for the CL run and current keeper Doni does show flaws from time to time that may be related to fatigue and over use. Personally if I were Marino I would do the swap in a heartbeat.
4. There were rumors that Napoli was interested in Atalanta striker Sergio Floccari but he appears destined to sign with Palermo. I think he’s overrated so I can’t say that I am disappointed.
5. Cagliari striker Robert Acquafresca does not appear destined to be wearing the Azzurri colours next year. All repots indicate that Marino has pulled out of the running (if he was ever really in them to begin with).
6. Amidst the rumours of his arrival to his native Napoli, Toto DiNatale in a recent interview stated that although he loves the thought of arriving at the San Paolo playing for the Azzurri, but he doesn’t realistically see the move happening since he loves Udinese and he doesn’t see Marino acquiring him in light of the youth movement currently in place in Napoli. Stay tuned friends as stranger things have happened. Keep the faith!
7. Another rumored swap is between Livorno and Napoli where the Azzurri would give up seldom used defender Erminio Rullo in exchange for 26 year old defender Giovanni Pasquale. Pasquale was a starter for Livorno last season playing in 35 games with no goals (actually he has never tallied at all in his career) but he is more recognized as a solid defender. My take is ah, this is a no brainer!! I am still trying to remember the last time Rullo saw the pitch- I think it was in Serie B sometime after his arrival in January 2007 so to trade up a reserve for a veteran starter in Serie A makes it a sweet deal. I can’t see why Livorno would do it though.
8. I have also done some reading that Napoli have thrown their hat in the ring to acquire Vincenzo Iaquinta since his days at Juventus are numbered now that the bianconeri are close to signing Amauri. I’m not sure how I feel about going after Iaquinta. Maybe I just can’t get DiNatale out of my head.