How Giovanni Manna lured Barido to Napoli this summer | OneFootball

Juventus have lost one of its brightest academy prospects, Francisco Baridó, to Napoli after being unable to secure his signature on a new contract. The highly rated Argentinian teenager had been seen as a player with the potential to eventually break into the Bianconeri first team, but his departure now represents a significant blow for the Turin side.

Baridó joined the Juventus academy last year and impressed quickly with his performances, leading many within the club to view him as one of the standout talents in their youth system. The expectation had been that he would continue his progression in Turin, but contract talks with the youngster and his representatives failed to produce an agreement.

Napoli’s Role in Securing the Deal

According to Tuttosport, Juventus had been attempting for several months to secure Baridó on a long-term contract. However, their efforts were met with resistance, largely because Giovanni Manna, who Juventus had employed until last season, had already been in discussions with the player and his family about a possible move to Naples.

Manna, who played a key role in Baridó’s original move to Juventus, has since taken up a leading role at Napoli. This summer, he was involved in negotiations with Juventus for Fabio Miretti, although a deal between the two clubs could not be reached. Having failed in that pursuit, Manna redirected his efforts towards Baridó and ultimately succeeded in convincing him to join the Partenopei.

A Promising Future in Naples

Baridó has now officially signed with Napoli and will continue his development under Antonio Conte. The move offers him a fresh opportunity to grow within one of Italy’s most competitive squads, with the hope of eventually breaking into the first team.

For Juventus, his departure is a reminder of the challenges they face in retaining young prospects at a time when rival clubs are increasingly aggressive in the market for emerging talent. Losing a player of Baridó’s quality at just 17 years of age will undoubtedly be seen as a setback for the Bianconeri, who had invested considerable effort in his progression.

Baridó’s switch to Napoli highlights the increasing competitiveness of the environment for securing the futures of elite youth players in Italy. While Juventus will move forward with their remaining academy talents, the loss of such a promising figure will be felt within the club, particularly as supporters had high hopes for his future in black and white.