Danilo Close to Joining Napoli: Final Details Being Worked Out

Juventus defender Danilo is on the verge of transferring to Napoli in January, following a specific request from manager Antonio Conte. However, some final details still need to be ironed out between the two clubs before the move can be made official.

The Brazilian has been informed by Juventus that he is not part of coach Thiago Motta’s plans going forward, paving the way for his departure after five and a half seasons with the Turin club. At 33 years old, Danilo is said to be excited about the prospect of playing under Conte at Napoli, especially after his status at Juventus had come into question recently.

While Danilo has started Juventus’ last three Serie A matches, this was largely due to injuries in the squad rather than the coach’s preference. Napoli are keen to finalize the deal soon, particularly after center-back Rafa Marin requested a transfer due to lack of playing time.

The main sticking point in negotiations appears to be the transfer fee. Juventus would like to receive a small sum for Danilo, while Napoli are pushing to acquire him on a free transfer given his contract expires in June. The clubs have also discussed a potential swap deal involving Nicolò Fagioli and Giacomo Raspadori, but Napoli’s high valuation of Raspadori has complicated matters.

As talks continue, both sides remain optimistic a deal can be reached to bring the experienced Brazilian defender to Naples in the coming weeks. His arrival would provide a boost to Napoli’s backline as they look to mount a title challenge in the second half of the season under new manager Conte.