Former Napoli and Palermo defender Salvatore Aronica feels that with what’s happened so far in the summer transfer window, his old club the Partenopei have fallen further behind Inter and AC Milan.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster TMW Radio, Aronica gave the view that the Milan clubs have gained ground whilst things could be more difficult for Napoli who have lost important players this summer already.
Last season the Rossoneri, the Nerazzurri, and the Partenopei were the three outstanding teams within Italian football, finishing in the top three spots with teams like Juventus, Lazio, and Roma behind them.
For much of the campaign, Napoli had been right up there as title challengers, arguably even looking to be the favourites based on form, but some bad luck with injuries and stumbles in form meant that it was Inter and Milan who took the title race to the last day while they had to settle for third.
This summer, the Partenopei have seen captain Lorenzo Insigne depart on a free transfer, whilst long-serving striker Dries Mertens followed him out the door while defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly departed in a big money sale to Chelsea.
“Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in Europe,” Aronica stated. “Now the gap from the Milan clubs is even greater.”
He continued that “It will certainly have psychological effects on the players who arrive at the club without a leader with real personality like Koulibaly.”
