Alfredo Pedulla took stock of the future of Inter Milan ace Davide Frattesi amid talks linking him with a shock move to Napoli.
Speaking to The Italian Football Podcast, Pedulla confirmed Napoli’s interest in the 25-year-old.
Davide Frattesi seemed destined to leave the San Siro in January.
However, Inter blocked his transfer to Roma by slapping a prohibitive €50 million price tag on his shoulders.
Despite denying him a chance to leave, ex-manager Simone Inzaghi rarely played the former Sassuolo midfielder.
Therefore, a lack of first-team opportunities only strengthened Frattesi’s desire to find a new club.
Yet, with Inzaghi out of the picture, the situation could change.
Indeed, Cristian Chivu could resurrect Frattesi’s career at Inter, especially now that Hakan Calhanoglu is thinking of departing the club.
Moreover, the Italian star could have a prominent role at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
That could determine his future in Lombardy.
On the other hand, Napoli boss Antonio Conte is contemplating offering Frattesi an escape route from the San Siro.
Alfredo Pedulla Confirms Napoli Interest in Inter Milan Ace Davide Frattesi
“Frattesi is Napoli’s first choice,” Pedulla stated. “With the new Inter management, without Simone Inzaghi, I believe that Frattesi will not push as hard as before to leave.
“Before he played little, he came in, scored, but rarely started. Roma had tried seriously, he was a Roma fan or at least tied to Roma.
“Inter had asked for fifty million in January, fifty because they didn’t want to sell him.
“It was a price set to push away the interested clubs. Now that there is Chivu and there is no longer Inzaghi, I think that before going, he will think about it.
“But then Inter are not able to lose Calhanoglu, Frattesi, and another two.
“Inter will probably do a little re-styling, but they can’t sell everyone. Because then it would become very complicated for a new coach who has arrived to a completely new team.”
Frattesi should stay and play as AM. Chivu should play with a 3-4-1-2 system. No need for a holding midfielder, better a double pivot. Frattesi is suitable as an AM behind the strikers.
He and Zalewski both have the ability to actually bring energy and unpredictability to the team but both were given little opportunity by Inzaghi or were hobbled by inzaghi’s lack of flexibility with positioning and tactics.
We will regret continually giving away dynamic players in favor of old predictable guys. If fratessi goes to Napoli you can count on him scoring against us every time we play and running circles around our 37 year old midfield.
Inter’s starting midfield last season:
Barella – 28
Calhanoglu – 31
Mkhitaryan – 36
Where exactly are you getting 37 year-old midfield from?
Mkhitarian will turn exactly 37 in January…? We will play Napoli after January. I mean, I was being dramatic to make a point but the numbers are literally accurate so I don’t know what your point is.
A midfield with an average age of 31.6 is old by any measure and they got completely overrun against PSG