Napoli eye Cruzeiro goalkeeper Otavio despite his €100m release clause
Cruzeiro would open talks at €25m-€30m for the 20-year-old Brazilian. Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham and Porto are also watching him.
Napoli are looking for a new goalkeeper, and Cruzeiro's Otavio, born in 2005, is one of the names on their list. The Brazilian club have just extended his contract to 2031, with a €100m release clause for clubs abroad. They are still willing to start negotiations at €25m-€30m.
Napoli are not alone. Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham and Porto are also following the 20-year-old. Napoli play Porto at the Dragão in the Champions League on Wednesday 4 November. For now Giovanni Manna is watching, but he could make an offer to get ahead of the others.
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The interest makes sense. Meret's contract runs out in June 2027, and the choice between him and Milinković-Savić before the Roma game showed there is no undisputed first choice in goal. On 21 October Manna himself said the squad needs to get younger.
Still, one question is fair. Napoli have conceded 17 goals in 11 matches, and the trouble starts in front of the goal, not between the posts. Is €25m-€30m for a goalkeeper the right priority for January? The window reopens on 2 January. Before that, Napoli face Monza at the U-Power Stadium on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 15:45 ET).
Source: AreaNapoli
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