Former Serie A goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino has expressed his surprise at Alex Meret’s limited role at Napoli and suggested the player needs to prioritize consistent playing time. Speaking on Radio Napoli Centrale, Sorrentino stated he is a “fan” of Meret but believes the goalkeeper’s situation under manager Antonio Conte is untenable.
Meret has struggled for consistent starts at Napoli, particularly following a recent injury and the arrival of Milinkovic-Savic. Sorrentino questioned Conte’s decision-making regarding the goalkeeping position, noting the importance of save percentage and decisive stops – metrics where he feels Milinkovic-Savic currently excels. He emphasized that a goalkeeper’s primary function is to make saves, and that other attributes become secondary without that foundation.
Sorrentino acknowledged the prestige of playing for Napoli, but argued that regular football is crucial for Meret’s development. The former Chievo and Palermo goalkeeper believes Meret should seek a move to a club where he can secure a consistent starting position. He highlighted Meret’s previous spell at Como, suggesting while he made one notable save, his overall impact was limited.
The discussion also touched on broader issues within Italian football, with Sorrentino lamenting the increasingly defensive nature of the game and the lack of quality attackers and defenders compared to previous generations. He pointed to Gianluca Scamacca as the leading Italian goalscorer as evidence of this trend, and suggested this defensive focus contributed to Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup. Sorrentino also expressed reservations about managers returning to former clubs, citing potential difficulties in rebuilding relationships after previous departures.
