Napoli are revisiting their interest in Juventus defender Federico Gatti, according to reports in Italy. The club has been monitoring the 25-year-old for some time, with the pursuit intensifying following the appointment of Giovanni Manna as Sporting Director.
Manna is familiar with Gatti from their time together at Juventus, where he greatly appreciated the defender’s qualities. Gatti has struggled for consistent starting opportunities under current Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, largely featuring as a backup option. This limited game time raises concerns about his potential inclusion in future Italy national team squads.
Napoli initially targeted Mario Gila of Lazio to bolster their defense, but that deal appears to have fallen through with Gila now set to join Milan. This setback has prompted Napoli to renew their interest in Gatti, nicknamed “Gattone” by Juventus supporters. Throughout his time in Turin, Gatti has been praised for his solid performances and commitment to the club.
Juventus are reportedly open to selling Gatti to raise funds for their own transfer business, with a fee of around €20 million potentially accepted. The player has recently turned down offers from Everton, Galatasaray, and Nottingham Forest, indicating a preference for a move to a top Italian or English club. The presence of Max Allegri at Napoli, who previously deployed Gatti as a key player and leader in Juventus’ defense, could be a significant factor in his decision. Allegri had even attempted to bring Gatti to Milan in January, but only a loan deal with an option to buy was offered. Manna and Allegri are now reportedly collaborating on a plan to bring Gatti to Napoli.
