Luca Prina has told TV Play that he couldn’t believe it when he found out Pro Patria could sign Elia Caprile from Leeds United.
The goalkeeper spent two years at Elland Road between 2020 and 2022, and in his final season, the Whites sent him on loan to Pro Patria.
Prina was then the manager of the Italian club, who were, and still are, in Serie C. He gave the former Leeds man regular opportunities, and he kept eight clean sheets and conceded 33 goals from 28 matches during the 2021/22 season.
The 22-year-old left Leeds to join Bari and his fine displays for the Serie B side in his debut season helped him get a move to Napoli last summer. The Italian champions have loaned him to Empoli, where he’s made five appearances this season.
Leeds signed Caprile from Chievo’s academy and during his time with the latter, he played under Prina’s orders.
When TV Play asked the manager his views on his former player, Prina has revealed the positive impact on his teammates at Chievo.
“At Chievo Primavera he played from a young age, but I immediately noticed both his personality and his ability to read the game. Although he was a goalkeeper, in fact, he changed the entire team’s idea of playing with his personality. There was immediately the perception that he had something more than average,” he said.
“In fact, when Pro Patria told me that it was possible to take Caprile from Leeds, I was surprised because he was already in a higher category. It also did good for Pro Patria. He was always aware of his qualities, but without presumption. He worked on the areas where he needed to improve.”
