'Dodged a bullet!' - Jack Grealish slammed by Italian press after opting for Everton loan over Napoli move with Paul Gascoigne comparison made

The arrival of Grealish has been hailed at The Hill Dickinson Stadium as a statement of intent, cementing Everton’s ambition to return to the Premier League's top ten under David Moyes. The Man City loanee will don the No.18 shirt, a number once worn by Everton icons Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne, both of whom hold legendary status on the blue half of Merseyside.

While the deal has been greeted with fanfare in Merseyside, the mood in Naples is strikingly different. Italian champions Napoli pursued Grealish earlier in the summer to strengthen Antonio Conte’s squad, but the Italian media believes they are better off without him.

Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport(Via Area Napoli) framed the development as a blessing in disguise.

"Italian clubs have dodged a bullet," journalist Riccardo Pratesi wrote. "A talent who would have been a fish out of water in Serie A. At Napoli with Conte, for me, he would have been a disaster: he’s not a player with pace or pace, but with technique, who slows down the game instead of immediately going vertical."

If questions about his on-field suitability weren’t enough, the Italian press also didn’t shy away from referencing Grealish’s off-field antics. Comparisons were drawn to former England and Lazio maverick Gascoigne, not for his flair with the ball, but for his well-documented lifestyle. 

"Grealish’s recent appearances in pubs across England, drinking and socialising with fans, are reminiscent of Gazza’s behaviour," Pratesi added. 

"Behaviour that, in the past, preceded a decline. Today, stories about Grealish aren’t about his exploits on the pitch, but about his Ibiza holidays and nights out."

The first chapter of Grealish’s Everton story begins on Monday when the Toffees travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United in their Premier League opener. Manchester City will take in a trip to Wolves two days earlier.