Napoli: We Want Everyone!

By: Martha | June 27th, 2007

Roma love [In case you're wondering where your update is, I'm trying not to write anything else about Chivu until something actually happens. We'll see how long my resolve lasts -- it's been about ... 14 hours so far, give or take.]

Just this morning alone, there are three different reports of the newly promoted Napoli’s interest in buying new attackers. Now, while I’m all in favor of new arrivals strengthening their squads, one has to wonder where all this money is coming from. Did they stumble upon a buried treasure, or something?

At the top of Napoli’s alleged list is Antonio Cassano, the same player who over the weekend was waxing rhapsodic about Inter, and describing them as the only club with a chance to bring him back to Italy. It’s being reported that not only has Cassano himself been paid visits by current Napoli players (including The Other Cannavaro), but also that his agent has already had preliminary talks with the Italian club. Not only that, but Cassano was spotted in Naples last night! What’s that? He was having dinner with friends? My ass he was.

In addition to the still impossibly young Cassano, Napoli are also allegedly interested in Villarreal’s Riquelme, a player not only still under contract to his club, but also desperately wanted by Boca Juniors, with whom he’s just spent a very productive six months on loan — he was named MVP of the Copa Libertadores and everything. It’s unclear if there’s anything more to this than a nostalgic desire to bring in another Argentine magician (one beloved by the original, no less), but it’s a nice idea, if nothing else.

And, finally, there’s Daniel Ljuboja, who is single-handedly increasing the transfer frenzy in Naples by telling the press Napoli want him to play alongside Cassano next season. Currently at Stuttgart — who won’t keep him — the striker claims his current club have been officially approached by the Italian side; if Ljuboja is to be believed, Napoli are front-runners for his services, a deal with Greek side Olympiakos have fallen through. (You’ll notice, however, that all the stories of clubs wanting him have come from Ljuboja’s mouth. I don’t know aobut you, but I’m finding that just a little suspicious. The man’s gotta work, after all.)