Napoli are weighing up a significant move for Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, as the club looks to navigate a delicate January transfer window. Speaking to Sportmediaset (relayed by Alfredo Pedullร ) ahead of the Partenopeiโs clash against Milan, sporting director Giovanni Manna addressed the mounting speculation linking the English midfielder with a move to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Manna confirmed that the club is closely monitoring the market, though he stressed the need for a calculated approach. โRegarding Mainoo, I have always said that we must be very reflective and careful in the January market,โ Manna stated. โWe have to make the right evaluations, wait for news in the next few days, and then see accordingly.โ
While the director preached caution, the admission that the club is actively evaluating the situation suggests that Napoliโs interest is concrete.
The potential deal comes at a complicated time for Mainoo at Old Trafford. Despite the 20-year-old not featuring as prominently as expected under new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese coach is reportedly hesitating to sanction a mid-season departure.
While Mainooโs game time has been limited, Amorim is said to be wary of thinning his squad further, creating a tug-of-war between Napoliโs desire to secure a top-tier talent and Unitedโs reluctance to lose one of their prized academy graduates.
For Napoli, the pursuit of Mainoo represents a strategic attempt to bolster a squad that Manna admits is currently โlimitedโ by injuries and the physical demands of a dense fixture list. Whether the Giallorossi can convince United to soften their stance remains to be seen, but the โright evaluationsโ are officially underway in Naples.
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Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN






