Napoli steal Inter target Thursday 24 January, 2008
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Napoli have enraged Inter by stealing Brescia midfield star Daniele Mannini from under the Nerazzurri’s noses.
The 24-year-old has become an outstanding player in Serie B and made over 100 appearances for the Rondinelle since arriving from Pisa in 2004.
With Mannini’s departure inevitable this summer, Brescia were believed to have given Inter first refusal, but Napoli have pulled off a surprise swoop.
“In my opinion the deal is done, even if it’s up to Napoli to announce it,” Brescia President Gino Corioni told Radio Marte.
“In any case, Mannini is officially a Napoli player. Will he leave now or in June? They will be letting us know soon.”
Napoli will pay a total of £5m for the son of former Pisa goalkeeping legend Alessandro Mannini, but the fee will probably be paid in instalments.
Inter are yet to react to the news, which will surely come as a blow as it was assumed that the Beneamata would gain Mannini’s rights and loan him to another Serie A club