Former Napoli and Juventus midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini reflected on his time at Napoli in an interview with Centrocampo.
He stated that joining Napoli was a mistake, both personally and tactically. Giaccherini explained that while he had the option that summer to join Torino and be a key player, the call from Napoli represented his last chance to play for a top club and compete in the Champions League, especially after a strong European Championship performance. He now views this decision as incorrect.
From a professional standpoint, he felt it wasn`t a positive experience because he wanted to contribute much more to the team and didn`t expect to be utilized so little. He contrasted his time at Napoli with his spell at Juventus:
“I played 55 games at Juventus alongside Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio, and Pogba. With all due respect, I could have played 55 games at Napoli with Hamsik, Allan, and Zielinski.”
He felt there was a tactical misunderstanding, as he was used as a backup for Callejon, a role he felt didn`t suit him. Giaccherini also commented on Maurizio Sarri`s management, suggesting it might have cost them, as the team seemed fatigued towards the end of the first and part of the second season.