Antonio Conte has cast his nest into new waters with his latest efforts to sign Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne for Tottenham Hotspur in January, according to reports.
Italian journalist Fabio Santini has come out with claims that Spurs boss Conte is a big fan of the diminutive attacker who is currently leading his boyhood club to the Serie A title this season, contributing five goals in 18 games to their cause.
The 30-year-old, however, has a contract that expires in the summer and the negotiations for a new deal have proven extremely difficult between the club and Insigne’s entourage.
The Naples edition of the Italian newspaper la Repubblica newspaper has now come out with claims that Conte has taken note of the situation and has alerted the Tottenham Hotspur board to the Italian international’s situation.
Insigne is also linked with Juventus, Lazio and Internazionale in Serie A and Conte – who was his coach in the Italian national team between 2014 and 2016 – will have to put together a very interesting package to convince him to leave Italy for Spurs.
Insigne flattered by Conte’s interest, claims Italian journalist
Fabio Santini also reports that Insigne is aware and flattered by Conte’s interest in him. However, the Napoli captain is yet to decide if he will leave Napoli in January due to their current title charge.
“Antonio Conte is crazy about Lorenzo Insigne and would like the player as early as January… Lorenzo Insigne, of course, is flattered by the interest of both Conte and Tottenham, but he is undecided.
“He would not want to break up with Napoli during the current season,” Santini is quoted as saying on the issue.
Santini also alleges that Fabio Paratici, Tottenham Hotspur’s director of football, is going to play a key role in Insigne’s decision to remain in Serie A or move to England with Spurs.
Santini is also quoted as saying: “There have been meetings with Inter and Juventus, but Tottenham is the club closest to the player.
“The closest team to Lorenzo Insigne is Tottenham. Their executive, Fabio Paratici is courting him closely.”
Another plus for Spurs, according to Santini, is that Napoli’s owner Aurelio De Laurentiis will rather let Insigne leave Italy if he cannot find a deal to keep him at Napoli than sell him to a rival Serie A team.
“Aurelio De Laurentiis is not bothered, quite the contrary. The patron believes the English one could be the right solution because Il Magnifico would leave Italy and, consequently, would not join a rival Serie A club,” the journalist said.
It is not right that Lorenzo becomes a mercenary, says agent
Insigne’s agent Vincenzo Pisacane is unhappy with the way Napoli have handled the contract extension talks. The agent says that a deal is very far from being reached because Napoli’s proposal is “inappropriate”.
Pisacane told Corriere dello Sport: “We do not consider the renewal proposal to be appropriate, but it is not right that Lorenzo becomes a mercenary. We never asked for a bonus to sign, however, according to the president, the bonuses should be the overwhelming majority of the salary.
Pisacane also admitted that it will be difficult for his client to wear another jersey in the same league after so many years with Napoli, the club he joined at 15 years old.
“Divided in time, in education, in manners, in gestures. One day it will be right to tell what has happened over time. A great champion would have deserved more time,” Pisacane said.
“After so many years in a team, it is difficult to wear another jersey in the same league. An experience outside would do less harm like (Alessandro) Del Piero. But it’s my idea.”
