Sassuolo’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Carnevali, shared insights into the club’s transfer market dealings in an interview with Sky and TMW Radio. The Neroverdi boss broke down the clubs winter mercato, highlighting why they went for Josh Doig and Marush Kumbulla, while also explaining why Grégoire Defrel left the club:
Defrel’s Exit Plans and Young Talent Focus
“We were looking for a midfielder; we had Defrel leaving for Granada. However, it fell through at the last minute because he didn’t want to go. We revised our plans and stayed as we were. We are always attracted to young Italians, seeking promising talents. In this market, the choices were limited. We are content; we have a good team, and it wasn’t necessary to overspend compared to the players’ value.”
Domenico Berardi’s Recovery
“I hope he recovers soon; it’s the most important thing because his absence is significant. It will take about another twenty days, although Mimmo is already recovering. He is our champion, but we have many other talented players who will help us. As for next season, we will have time to think and evaluate with him. I would like him to stay with us always, but if there are opportunities for his value, I believe it’s right for him to consider them.”
Doig
“We are happy, we believe in him; he is a young and promising player. We are happy with this acquisition.”
Kumbulla
“For a while, he was our priority. The boy is recovering well from his injury and is already ready to be at the coach’s disposal. Besides, we also had the desire to bring in a young left-sided player, and that’s why we went for Doig. It’s regrettable not to have managed to place Defrel, who rejected a destination.”
Missed Opportunity with Gudmundsson
“We had considered it in the summer because he was already an important player. We didn’t close the deal because the demands were already very high. Still, congratulations to Genoa for valorizing him.”
In summary, Sassuolo seems content with their transfer activities, focusing on young talents and retaining a positive outlook for the ongoing season.
