Former Napoli Sporting Director Mauro Meluso feels that the loss of Piotr Zielinski to Inter Milan was “avoidable.”

The executive looked back on the Pole’s decision to leave for the Nerazzurri this summer while speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews.

This summer, Zielinski’s move to Inter has been one of the more high profile transfers to date.

The Polish international had been at Napoli for the past eight seasons.

Over that period, Zielinski established himself as one of the Italian top flight’s best midfielders.

Zielinski played under the likes of Maurizio Sarri, Carlo Ancelotti, and Gennaro Gattuso at the Partenopei.

But it was the arrival of Luciano Spalletti that really seemed to unlock the Pole’s best form.

Zielinski was a key player in both of Spalletti’s two seasons in charge of Napoli. He played a big role in the club winning the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years in the 2022-23 season.

Meluso: “Napoli Losing Piotr Zielinski To Inter Avoidable”

Last season was a very tough one for Napoli as a whole.

The Campanians’ Serie A title defense was nothing short of a disaster.

Spalletti parted ways with Napoli last summer despite having guided the team to their first league title in three decades.

Rudi Garcia replaced Spalletti. There would be two more changes on the bench during the season, with both Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona taking over for spells.

It was amid this backdrop that Zielinski decided not to accept the offer of a new contract from Napoli.

Therefore, the 30-year-old was free to leave Napoli when his contract ran out at the end of June.

And it was Inter who convinced Zielinski with their project. They’ve reportedly had an agreement in hand with the Pole since January.

Zielinski has therefore been part of Inter’s preseason preparations for the past few weeks.

Former Napoli Sporting Director Meluso said of Zielinski’s exit that “It was avoidable.”

“I already said that that was my responsibility,” he said.

“The negotiations with the Pole’s agent were already underway when I arrived,” Meluso noted. “I arrived a little late.”

“I regret that I didn’t intervene more clearly, because he was a very important player for Napoli.”