Frozen-out Napoli defender is next on Man City’s wishlist
Published:Having lost four Premier League games already, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellgrini is on the hunt for further defence reinforcements and Paolo Cannavaro’s agent has hinted the Napoli man could be on the move in January.
Eighth in the Premier League is not a position Pellegrini’s employers will be feeling particular pleased about, no doubt.
Therefore, with Vincent Kompany’s injury woes no closer to abating, the Chilean is having to consider more running repairs when the transfer window opens and he may look to Serie A first if rumours are to be believed.
Italian centre-back Cannavaro, 32, was a mainstay of the impressive Napoli team of last season which forged a second-place finish in Serie A, their highest position since the southern Italian side last won the title way back in 1990.
However, under the newly instated Rafa Benitez his stock has flopped dramatically, as the goateed gaffa has chosen to partner Raul Albiol and Federico Fernandez instead, while Cannavaro has been reduced to just four Serie A appearances thus far.
Cannavaro’s agent Enrico Fedele said: “Paolo has gone from playing seven or eight games a month to a place on the bench,”
“If things don’t change at Napoli then we could discuss the possibility of a transfer.”
Of course Pellegrini has already brought in one veteran defender as cover during the summer, in the shape of Argentine defender Martin Demichelis.
But the former Bayern Munich man has struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premier League and has been used sparingly despite the unavailability of Kompany, so this could be a transfer that is quickly brushed under the carpet by City.
There is no doubting Cannavaro has qualities to bring, though if he’s not getting in Napoli’s team then City fans may well view this as another poor attempt at a patch-up job.
Even though the Citizens have already dropped 14 points, they are still rated alongside Chelsea as title favourites at 11/4.
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