Conte ironic about possible Napoli departure in January: ‘Him too?’ | OneFootball

Antonio Conte ironically replied to a question on whether Giacomo Raspadori could have left the club in the January transfer window: ‘Him too?’

The Italian striker is expected to start in a Serie A match against Lazio on Saturday following David Neres’ muscle injury.

Raspadori has been struggling for playing time this season, scoring just one goal in 13 league games and collecting 538 minutes of football across all competitions. Nevertheless, Napoli refused to discuss the striker’s sale in the winter transfer window.

When a reporter noticed that Raspadori could have left the club last month, Conte replied ironically: “Him too?” he said, smiling.

“We have to finish the season, after all. Imagine if we had also given away Raspadori. Come on,” he added, smiling again.

“I had already expressed my thoughts on him before the transfer window. I always try to keep the good players if possible, but sometimes, circumstances are beyond our control, and the opposite happens.

“Beyond what others say, what matters to me is that the player knows my appreciation. He has always been dedicated, committed to the group, and has done his duty, just like others who have stepped in,” continued the Napoli coach.

“I remember the doubts about Juan Jesus too. It seemed like I was playing the worst player in Italy, but players need to be coached properly and given the right instructions, and their strengths must be highlighted. That’s our job: to provide the right guidance.”

Napoli sold Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG over €70m in the January transfer and replaced the Georgian with Milan striker Noah Okafor, who has moved to the Maradona on a loan deal with an option to buy.

Despite reports of an unhappy Conte, the Italian tactician has refused to complain in front of the media, insisting that he was focused on the club’s long-term development.

Conte ironic about possible Napoli departure in January: ‘Him too?’

NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 29: Giacomo Raspadori of Napoli during the Serie A match between Napoli and Venezia at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 29, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“What matters and will always matter is the work that has been done,” he added during Friday’s press conference.

“We have a group of players who embraced this concept of hard work from the very beginning, and that’s what has led us to this great position in the standings.

“Of course, there have been and will be challenges we must overcome. But we have always tried, even in the past, to find solutions to difficulties and move forward. That’s what I teach the players: we keep going, relying on the work we’ve done over these seven months, which has been incredible despite some challenges, including changing three tactical systems due to issues that arose from summer until now.

“The credit goes to them. They absorb everything like sponges, and that allows me to implement changes even in difficult situations.”

All Napoli’s starters on the left flank have suffered injuries in recent weeks, as David Neres’ issue followed those of Mathias Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola.

“We can’t ignore certain situations; they are tangible. Injuries happen, and when they affect specific positions, we must find solutions to maximize the players we have available,” argued Conte.

“I will never ask a player to do something they have never done or haven’t done in a long time because that would only put them and the team in difficulty. We will try to find the right ‘fit,’ as I always say. There will be opportunities for those who haven’t had many so far but have still contributed significantly to the points we have earned.

“Again, we will look for the best solution, the best system, without distorting the players’ qualities.”