Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has shed light on why the club’s pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho fell apart and criticized Manchester United’s hefty investment in Patrick Dorgu.
With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia departing for Paris Saint-Germain in a €70 million (£58.9m) move, Napoli sought a high-profile replacement and held in-depth discussions with Manchester United over Garnacho.
The club even saw United lower their asking price to €65m (£54.8m), but negotiations broke down due to the Argentine winger’s salary expectations.
Speaking at a press conference, Manna revealed that Garnacho had a strong desire to leave the Premier League in January but demanded wages that didn’t align with Napoli’s financial structure. He emphasized that introducing such a high salary for a young player would have been unfair to the squad.
“We engaged with Garnacho even before Kvara’s departure, made a serious bid, and came close,” Manna stated. “He wanted to leave in January, not wait for the summer, but his financial demands weren’t feasible. We’re not in a position to meet those expectations, nor do we believe it’s fair to disrupt our salary balance.”
Napoli also pursued Dorgu before United finalized a €35m (£29.2m) deal with Lecce late in the transfer window. Manna admitted Napoli couldn’t match United’s bid and suggested the price exceeded the player’s market value.
“We aim to sign top talent, young or experienced, but within reason,” he explained. “We were negotiating for Dorgu in the summer, but when United makes an over-the-market offer, waiting becomes impossible.”
Manna also referenced other transfer dealings, stressing Napoli’s preference for well-calculated signings rather than overpaying for free agents with high wages and commissions.
He cited acquisitions like Buongiorno, Gilmour, Spinazzola, McTominay, Neres, and Lukaku as part of their well-planned squad-building approach.
“We had to replace Kvara, and while we didn’t do it exactly as planned, our team remains competitive,” Manna added. “Agreeing to Garnacho’s demands would have been disruptive to players who have worked hard since July. It wasn’t the right move at this moment.”
While disappointed that Napoli couldn’t secure Garnacho, Manna remains focused on the club’s ongoing ambitions. He emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective and staying committed to their Champions League aspirations.
“The market is never truly closed; we will return stronger,” he concluded. “Right now, we must stay focused on our goals. This Napoli team deserves recognition for what they’ve achieved.”