EXCLUSIVE: ‘Napoli refused to sign Dybala and Lamela’, FIFA agent tells CM
Mr. Laberti, Mammana has just turned 20, he’s a mainstay at River Plate but the best Serie A clubs want to sign him. Is he ready for Italian football?
“He’s a very strong central defender, but his technical skills are impressive too. He should be given time to settle in well in a new team. In Argentina we almost only work on young players’ technique rather than strength when they are aged between 9 and 16. We don’t focus too much on players’ physical growth. We have all to be patient. Even some of the greatest champions of the past such as Omar Sivori struggled at the beginning of their experience in Italy. Today, however, we expect everything immediately, but young players need time, especially if they are coming from another continent. The importance of nutrition, by instance, is so underestimated. It is difficult to change nutrition habits from one day to another, that’s why I am saying young players need time before being evaluated. Mammana is doing very well and he has all the qualities to impose himself in Serie A.
Are Napoli edging closer to signing him?
“Not at the moment. In the past we proposed them some other players like Dybala or Lamela, but they laughed at us. At that time Dybala was playing in the Argentinean’s third division and they didn’t want him. They bought Datolo, but he had too much pressure on his shoulders, not to mention Fideleff or Chavez, two players who have nothing to do with Napoli.”
A former Napoli star – Ezequiel Lavezzi – has just joined China. Do you think he only did it for money?
“I can only say that’s a great opportunity for El Pocho. Before he became a footballer he was working an electrician, now he’s a business. He can buy houses, buildings, he rents his properties here in Argentina. He thought about his future and one can’t really criticize him for this.”
Do you think the relation between De Laurentiis an Higuain can fragment after the president’s comments on Higuain’s weight?
“They could have had a private discussion about it, but football has changed now. Clubs used to control their players before and after training in the past, now they can do whatever they want. The Pipita is a great player, he’s at the same level of strikers like Robert Lewandowski, only two-three steps behind Messi and Cristiano.
What about the Scudetto race?
“Napoli have to try until the very end. That would be a very deserved title for the city. I like Sarri, but he has to change something. Higuain can’t run 60 meters back to defend on set pieces. He is clearly losing brilliance due to all these efforts. He used to make a movement within three second at the beginning of the season, now he takes six to do the same thing. Sarri should not task him with defensive duties, Higuain has to play in the final third, like Cristiano, Gerd Muller or Careca. If he always plays there, he can be a phenomenon, otherwise he becomes an average player.”
Giovanni Scotto, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
