Last chance saloon for Gabbiadini to ward off Napoli interest in Simone Zaza
Manolo Gabbiadini could well be playing his last hand at Napoli tonight, and certainly one of his last ones.
Our sources have him starting in tonight’s game against Sassuolo at the San Paolo, with over 40.000 fans expected to show up.
The 24-year-old striker cut a frustrated figure in summer camp this year, the signing of Arkadiusz Milik relegating him to a reserve role despite playing like a superhero in a friendly against Monaco, rifling in five goals in a friendly against Monaco.
The Polish star’s injury was supposed to give Gabbiadini - who was bought from Sampdoria for €13 million after banging in 15 goals in 47 games - his chance to prove that he’s a budding star, and someone who was unlucky to sit behind Gonzalo Higuain for 18 months.
Instead, Il Gabbia has netted only once in Serie A action this season, his team having to resort to alternative sources of goals to keep afloat.
With the Partenopei struggling to win home games of late (especially in Europe), the man who could have been Italy’s starting striker at Euro 2016 had he stayed at Sampdoria has his own Rubicon to cross.
Let’s hope he’s able to face up to the challenge, otherwise Napoli have a number of names lined up to replace him, including Simone Zaza of West Ham, Leonardo Pavoletti of Genoa and even loanee Duvan Zapata, currently playing for Udinese.
