Transfer Zone

Report: Napoli Ponder Bid For Genoa Star Thiago Motta

The Vesuviani have targeted the Brazilian playmaker and are prepared to sacrifice stopper Fabiano Santacroce.

May 14, 2009 11:08:33 AM

Thiago Motta is left scratching his head after his Genoa side lost to Lazio

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Thiago Motta is left scratching his head after his Genoa side lost to Lazio

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Genoa
Napoli

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Napoli directors are desperately scouring the transfer market to find the missing ingredient for Roberto Donadoni’s team and have set their sights on Genoa midfielder Thiago Motta.

Since being promoted to Serie A in 2007, transfer guru Pierpaolo Marino has failed to bring in a natural playmaker who is able to direct play in the middle of the park, and former coach Edy Reja often employed Uruguayan international Walter Gargano in the role with mixed results.

The Vesuviani have been linked with several names in recent weeks, including Atalanta man Luca Cigarini and Udinese ace Gaetano D’Agostino, but La Gazzetta dello Sport reports this morning that Marino has now enquired about Motta.

The ex-Barcelona man has impressed at the Stadio Marassi this term and is allegedly a target for Juventus and Inter, but Napoli are reportedly ready to offer around €10 million cash plus the services of Italian international defender Fabiano Santacroce to bring him to the San Paolo.

Santacroce has disappointed this term after a positive start to life in Campania when he joined from Brescia in January 2009, and has been involved in a number of training ground scuffles with his team-mates, prompting speculation that the Azzurri will offload him in the summer.

Vince Masiello, Goal.com