Napoli director Riccardo Bigon looks back over his biggest transfer regrets: Gareth Bale and Arturo Vidal.
The Partenopei chief beat Arsenal to Gonzalo Higuain last summer, but could’ve achieved some even bigger coups.
“Bale is our big regret,” director of sport Bigon told E Azzurro.
“It was 2010, I had just arrived at Napoli and we had an emergency situation on the left flank. We needed a left-footed player and he didn’t play much at Tottenham when Redknapp was the manager, so he was available.
Napoli director Riccardo Bigon looks back over his biggest transfer regrets: Gareth Bale and Arturo Vidal.
The Partenopei chief beat Arsenal to Gonzalo Higuain last summer, but could’ve achieved some even bigger coups.
“Bale is our big regret,” director of sport Bigon told E Azzurro.
“It was 2010, I had just arrived at Napoli and we had an emergency situation on the left flank. We needed a left-footed player and he didn’t play much at Tottenham when Redknapp was the manager, so he was available.
“Bale was very young at the time, but we would’ve had to invest €10m and decided against it. A pity.”
Welsh Wizard Bale would eventually be sold to Real Madrid for a reported €100m in 2013.
“The other regret is Vidal. I had moved early on him, meeting his agent during Bologna-Napoli and in secret visiting Leverkusen to talk with Bayer.
“I still have the fax with their demands. If the player hadn’t left for the Copa America, I probably would’ve won that race with Juventus.”