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‘We really wanted him’ – Napoli chief reveals Alejandro Garnacho request that saw Man Utd star’s transfer fall apart

ALEJANDRO GARNANCHO’s transfer to Napoli fell apart after the star made an “unfair” request to join them.

Garnacho, 20, at one stage looked destined to leave Manchester United during the winter transfer window.

Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United in action.
Getty
Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Napoli failed due to one ‘unfair’ reason[/caption]
Giovanni Manna, SSC Napoli's director of sport.
Getty
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna said they ‘really wanted him’[/caption]

This was due to him partly not fitting Ruben Amorim‘s system, partly owing to a lack of minutes and partly due to PSR pressure on Man Utd.

Napoli and Chelsea were among the main clubs linked with the winger, but ultimately a deal was not reached with Garnacho finding a new lease of life at Old Trafford.

The Italian side had been looking to sign a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the month in a deal worth £59m.

But Giovanni Manna, sporting director of the Naples outfit, has now revealed why a deal to sign the Argentine fell apart.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he said: “We discussed and met Garnacho even before Kvara left, we made an important offer to United. We really wanted him.

“The player wanted to leave the Premier League in January because in July it’s different; he wanted to be satisfied financially, something that we can’t do at the moment.

“We don’t want to and I don’t even think it’s fair when there’s an average salary in the dressing room and you put a young player who earns a higher salary.

“It’s not right towards the others who are doing important things.”

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“We created a competitive team for a competition, and we are there thanks to the coach and the team, it wasn’t right.”

Despite extensive discussions with the Red Devils, Napoli were also unable to agree a transfer fee despite the asking price being lowered to £55m.

Napoli were also in the race for Patrick Dorgu, before he eventually moved to Man Utd in a deal worth £25m plus £4m in add-ons.

Manna added: “Napoli must take strong players, whether they’re young or older.

“For example, we negotiated Dorgu for the summer, then if United arrives and makes an offer outside the market it’s difficult to tell them to wait for us.

“I’ll give you a practical example – if there’s an opportunity like [Scott] McTominay we’ll take it, but we’re not a club that takes a free agent for a five million salary and six million commission, that’s not our modus operandi, many others do it.

“We take the good ones, the functional ones, if they have a prospect it’s better, but it’s not a necessary condition.

“We took Buongiorno, Gilmour, but also Spinazzola, McTominay, Neres, Romelu, strong players in their market moment.

“It seems that we had to do who knows what, we had to replace Kvara, we didn’t do it as we wanted but this summer we made few mistakes and the team is showing it.

“Taking the step to please Garnacho means that I put someone in there with players who have been busting their asses since July… it’s not right, then we wanted to do it.

“I’m not happy, we didn’t succeed, but the market didn’t end yesterday, it starts again and we will have to be good and show strength now.

“Staying focused on the Champions League objective, which doesn’t mean not dreaming but staying focused, otherwise if you fly then you fall and hurt yourself.

“This Napoli deserves only positive words, always and in any case, what is being done nobody expected.”

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Inside Corrie’s crisis that could see YOUR favourites ‘quit before they’re axed’ and legends ‘begging for more scenes’

THE ongoing Coronation Street crisis has reached tipping point after ITV dramatically slashed its schedule.

Some of the nation’s best loved stars are poised to quit the Cobbles before they are axed amid the changes, which have sparked chaos behind the scenes and left them questioning the bosses loyalty.

Audrey Roberts and Rita Tanner arguing over credit.
ITV
Coronation Street legend Barbara Knox is said to be keen for more scenes[/caption]
Gail Rodwell and Jesse making an announcement to the Platt family.
ITV
Helen Worth recently bowed out of the soap[/caption]

Yesterday The Sun told how Corrie bosses have reduced the show from six episodes per week, to just five 30-minute episodes.

As many as 75 people will lose their jobs across both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, which is also struggling amid the budget issues – and it seems even the biggest names aren’t immune from the soap’s cash crisis.

Insiders tell us that the stars have known for a while that changes were coming, but it’s left many feeling disgruntled and concerned about their future on the flailing soap.

A TV source said:  “Rumours of a schedule change had been rumbling for a while so it wasn’t a huge surprise to the cast but now the news is out there it is starting to feel very real. Some of the cast have gone into panic mode and are really considering their futures.

“They are thinking of leaving before there axed to save them the embarrassment.”

The cast are said to be increasingly divided in how they are reacting to the news, but it’s fair to say no one feels completely safe.

Loyalty questions

It’s thought that what happened to Colson Smith really did send shockwaves through the cast.

The insider continued: “Some of the older cast think that their jobs save but they are being warned by their co-stars not to get too comfortable.

“It hasn’t gone unnoticed that fan favourites and long standing cast members, some who  have been there 30/40 years, have been axed. There is a real feeling that ITV has no loyalty towards them.

“It’s been a tricky few months and this has only made it harder. The year long wait is driving everyone mad too – they would rather changes start happening asap.”

To make matters worse, even some of the soaps most iconic stars are unhappy.

Corrie stars get a fee per episode, which is thought to range from £400 to £2,000 and show legend Barbara Knox is said to have asked for some more scenes.

“There are whisperings that Barbara is really not happy with the air time she is getting. She keeps asking for more scenes but isn’t being included,” they said.

“It’s a real shock to her and others that no one has any power anymore and there really is no extra cash to made. People wouldn’t be surprised if she quits while she ahead.”

Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025

ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.

This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.

Colson Smith – Craig Tinker

The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.

Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw

After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.

Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe

Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.

Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster

In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.

Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley

The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.

Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe

The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.

Man sitting on a couch using a laptop.
ITV
Long standing members like Jack Shepherd have been surprised by recent changes[/caption]
Man pointing at Coronation Street Experience backdrop.
Colson Smith has been making extra cash doing tours but has now been axed

The actress – who plays Rita Tanner in the ITV soap – first appeared on the cobbles in December 1964 as Rita in just one episode before being brought back full-time in 1972.

Barbara is second only to Ken Barlow actor Bill Roache, 91, in the age stakes on the ITV soap.

The star has not had a proper storyline for some time and only occasionally pops up on screen.

Cash needed

In the past she would have been seen in the Rovers Return, but bosses have barred the cast from being in the background in a bid to cut costs.

Because the stars are due a per-episode fee, which can mount up for actors on lucrative deals, they are no longer being used.

Only a few years ago you would see all the community in the pub – even if they didn’t speak.

A man and woman talking at a pub bar.
Fewer characters are now being used in pub scenes
Two women in a living room; one is seated and looking at her phone, the other is standing.
Sally Ann Mattews has made her thoughts on the soap clear

Younger cast members have started holding set tours on their days off to try and make more cash.

The schedule change announcement comes after a string of Corrie stars — Helen North, Charlotte Jordan, Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney, Colson Smith, and Luca Toolan — have announced they are leaving or being written out since November 2024.

Actor Seamus McGoff has also seemingly confirmed that he has left the soap, amid the ongoing cast exodus.

Insiders said rising costs and falling advertising revenue has piled on pressure.

Cobbles boss Kate Brooks warned last month she is set to axe characters including “some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves”.

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