Fabio Cannavaro feels Napoli can be Inter’s main title contender if Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stay at the club and wonders why Juventus wants to sell Federico Chiesa.
Cannavaro previewed the upcoming Serie A campaign during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Inter are still favourite to win the title and Cannavaro feels the Nerazzurri will struggle to improve the team in the summer transfer window.
“It isn’t easy. Perhaps only Dumfries could be replaced. The formula for success is another one: have two potential starters in each role because the season will be super long,” he said.
Who will be their primary opponent?
“Napoli, if they keep Osimhen and Kvara,” the ex-defender replied.
“Osi can score three goals with two touches; he’s unpredictable and needs fewer chances than Lukaku [to score]. Conte always puts the players in the best position and Oriali will be an added value.”
How about Motta’s Juventus?
“The start is promising with a new coach and new ideas, but when I read that they want to sell Chiesa, one of the best Italian strikers, I wonder why. Surely, Juventus can’t spend too much time without winning.
“Nobody invents anything in football. A good coach is one who takes the best out of his players; the rest is just for advertisement,” continued Cannavaro.
“Motta was excellent at taking the best from a group of players that was not top-tier. Now, he needs the same tranquillity at Juventus and will need to put his men in sync with new principles. Ball possession in the opponent’s half and a high line.”
Is Paulo Fonseca the right coach for Milan?
“Milan are using a new international model, which hasn’t been used much here. Sign good players, raise their value, and be financially sustainable. Americans often do it, said Cannavaro.
“Fonseca comes from an important school, and he has a nice system, but he didn’t end well in Roma. I am curious, especially because Pioli left an important legacy.”
Does it mean he should have stayed?
“I don’t know. There isn’t a rule in football. Even the top coaches struggle. Mou, Allegri, Sarri…there is more competition, and if one thinks he can take a sabbatical and return with the same ideas, he’s finished. One must always study, but there isn’t a logic.”
During the same interview, Cannavaro said Napoli signed the best centre-back this summer and said Italy can’t afford not qualifying for the World Cup again.