Luciano Spalletti calls Napoli his ‘most exhilarating challenge’ and insists he is more than happy if the current squad remains exactly as it is, although he won’t comment on what their ambitions are.
Their season opener is on Sunday evening against Venezia at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
“I will never not want the best, then we’ll see as time goes on what our ambitions are, but we know the path we are on and where we want to go,” said the coach in his press conference.
Much has been said about the lack of transfer activity for the Partenopei, who are practically unchanged from last season only with a new coach in charge.
“I said from the start that I’d be happy to keep the names currently in the squad and I meant it. Juan Jesus is someone I already know well, he can play as a centre-back or a left-back. I have no complaints, only losers complain,” continued Spalletti.
“I expect to see the conviction that we are a strong team. I have this squad, I am missing nothing for the next few games. Clearly, if I was to look to the future and we have the opportunities to complete the group, then we’ll do it, but the players must realise we’re lacking nothing and it’s wonderful to be us. We can start strong. This is my most exhilarating challenge!”
Yet the fact remains Lorenzo Insigne’s contract is running down with reports he could be allowed to leave for under €30m, while Kostas Manolas is pushing for a return to Greece with Olympiacos.
“In coming to Napoli, I imagined the team with Insigne and Manolas part of it, as they raise the level of the whole side. I think we’ll still have them both, you need to be optimistic in life.”