In an interview with Il Mattino, Paolo Di Canio shared his views on Napoli’s summer transfers and their outlook for the upcoming season. The former player also criticized Manchester United’s transfer strategy while commending Napoli’s recent signings.
Discussing the summer transfer window, Di Canio remarked: “I would go to Manchester United to arrest all the directors: how can you let someone like McTominay go? There’s a player like Neres who is a reserve and is at the peak of his career.”
He continued, “Gilmour at Brighton has shown the same ball control and clarity as Lobotka. Conte brought in Lukaku, who is his cornerstone and follows him everywhere.”
“Overall, there’s every reason to be optimistic and almost a duty to secure a Champions League spot.”
Looking ahead to Napoli’s upcoming games, Di Canio expressed excitement: “You can soar high because if you come through the three matches against Inter, Atalanta, and Milan still leading the standings, it’s time to wear a new uniform and start dreaming.”
Di Canio also weighed in on the recent VAR controversies: “I’ll say it: some of the penalties I’ve seen are ridiculous. They’re ‘ruining’ football because few referees truly understand the dynamics of the game.”
He added, “We end up in absurd situations where an obvious foul, like the push on Kvara, isn’t called, even though it’s as clear as a skyscraper.”
“When a player swerves and leans forward to strike the ball low, even the slightest contact can cause him to fall.”
On the topic of player behavior and protests, Di Canio commented: “For heaven’s sake. In England, it’s not a game for schoolgirls, but there’s fair play. I don’t see players complaining about every contact.”
He recalled, “Two friends like Bergomi and Costacurta would step on your foot with steel cleats like those used for climbing in the snow during throw-ins. And that was part of the beauty of the game.”