Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon hopes Coach Rafa Benitez continues his interest in Javier Mascherano.
The player and tactician worked together during their respective spells at Liverpool and it has been heavily speculated that the Spaniard wants a reunion with the now-Barcelona midfielder.
Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon hopes Coach Rafa Benitez continues his interest in Javier Mascherano.
The player and tactician worked together during their respective spells at Liverpool and it has been heavily speculated that the Spaniard wants a reunion with the now-Barcelona midfielder.
In an interview with Calcio Napoli 24, 42-year-old Bigon said he hopes a deal can go through but is fully aware that circumstances can change.
“I’d imagine so, and it is right that it should happen,” Bigon said. “We are talking about an extraordinary player, who has had a top level career. But we have read the quotes by Luis Enrique so we’ll see.
“I know the pitfalls of the market and I know that situations can change from one moment to the next.”
Bigon then provided an insight into the Partenopei’s transfer strategy as they seek to improve on their third place Serie A finish next term.
“We want to be ambitious, competitive and stronger than the team that has just finished in third place.
“We need to evolve the team, not revolutionise it. It’s clear that we don’t yet know what the evolution of the team will be over the next few months, but our ideas are very clear.
“We have a list for every role and in some we have two or three options. In others there can be five or six.
“The players who come in will have personality, but to have charisma it’s not necessary to have won the Champions League.
“De Laurentiis’ project has been developing along the lines set out, to grow and to win. It’s clear that we want young and strong players, but that isn’t always possible.
“The past has shown we have been very attentive in the market. The likes of Higuain, Callejon, Mertens and Reina were not guarantees last summer. We had a plan.
“What will we aim for? We have only just finished the season, but it’s easy for me to reveal that Napoli want to continue being what it has been.
“A club that wants to win. This is perfectly in line with our Coach, who always has the desire to win trophies. Just like us.”