New Napoli summer signing Alessandro Buongiorno gave his first press conference and explained his reasons for making the move to the Partenopei. Speaking at Castel di Sangro, where Conte’s team is preparing for the start of the championship. The former Torino centre-back touched on the market rumours linking him to Juve, the allure of working with Antonio Conte and his defensive idols.
Regarding the transfer market, Buongiorno said, “This year there were teams that wanted me, just like last year. I’ve always been attached to Torino, but it was time for me to take this step for my professional growth. I must say that from the moment the first rumors about Napoli came out, there was no lack of affection from all the fans. Then, during the Euros, I had the chance to talk with the manager and the director, which pushed me to come here.”
On the influence of Conte, he stated, “The meeting with Conte in a restaurant in Turin was truly coincidental. It was my birthday, I was with friends, and I happened to meet the manager. We talked a bit, he explained his ideas and what he wanted to do here. After that meeting, we spoke a couple of times when I was in Germany. His words really excited me and made me feel important, giving me confidence. I can’t wait to repay this trust on the field.”
Buongiorno shared his childhood idols, saying, “As a child, I watched many YouTube videos of Maldini and Nesta to replicate what they did. As for recent idols, I was inspired by Sergio Ramos for his leadership on the field. I admire this ‘aura’ he has on and off the pitch. I’ve always observed him to imitate his behavior.”
When asked about other teams interested in him, Buongiorno revealed, “Did I refuse Juventus? There were many teams that sought me out, but at this moment, for me, a boy born and raised in Torino who has read the names at Superga, it seemed like betraying myself. Also, I reiterate, here the affection of the people is felt strongly.”
Regarding his goal-scoring abilities, he commented, “Having defenders who score goals is very important. Last year I scored three goals, and I want to improve my score. If you always want to win, it’s essential for a coach to have defenders who are dangerous in the offensive zone.”
Buongiorno also spoke about challenging opponents, stating, “The striker I had the most difficulty with in the last championship? Osimhen was tough, we all know his strength and speed, it was difficult to mark him. Given the man-to-man game we had at Torino, it was very difficult against Lukaku, being physically big and able to cover the ball well.”
