What was clear following Tanguy Ndombélé’s return from Lyon this summer was that the Tottenham midfielder wouldn’t be a part of Antonio Conte’s plans.
That’s why everyone around him went to work to find him a new landing spot, with Spurs eventually striking a deal with Napoli, who welcome him on loan with a view to buy him for around £30m.
Whether they do hand over the money to Tottenham next year depends entirely on the player, who has struggled to get started properly in Italy.
Still, he appears intent on having a good season, but getting back into the rhythm and adapting to a new league will take time, which Luciano Spalletti appears ready to give him.
Per Sempre Napoli look at the situation, and believe the Tottenham loanee ‘absolutely wants to shake off the last three seasons’ in Naples, described as ‘difficult and unbearable years’.
Searching for ‘professional normality’, the hope is that he finds this with the Serie A side, even if ‘the marriage between him and the environment struggles to work’ for the time being.
However, the website do point out the player is ‘starting almost from scratch’ and he must ‘rediscover the typical sensations of those who are used with a certain continuity’.
Napoli, though, do have the knowledge that they only paid €500k for him up front, and do not have the pressure of having to buy him from Tottenham come the end of the season.
Therefore, ‘without risking anything from an economic point of view’, the Italians and their manager can take their time with Ndombélé, who, should he not succeed, will be there to make up the numbers.
If he does start playing like his old self, though, that could be a benefit for both them and Tottenham, just like the deal they struck with André-Frank Zambo Anguissa ended up working in their favour.
Just ask Liverpool fans.
