Tanguy Ndombele is spending this season on loan with Napoli, and is already facing similar criticism to what he received at Lyon and Tottenham Hotspur.
The midfielder signed for Spurs in 2019 in a big money deal, and a lot was expected from him. Despite his talent not being under question, and despite him showing flashes of that talent on occasion, he wasn’t able to convince multiple managers at the London club.
There were questions about consistency, fitness and effort and whether Ndombele would ever be able to impose himself across a season for Tottenham. Given he was sent out on loan to Lyon for the second half of last season, Antonio Conte clearly though not.
Napoli were the club chosen this summer, and the Serie A side took the player on loan with a purchase option which they almost certainly won’t use.
So far, the 25-year-old has played just 57 minutes of football for the Italian club, and he didn’t get off the bench in this week’s victory over Liverpool.
Paolo Di Canio, now working as a pundit in Italy, clearly isn’t impressed with Ndombele, and is quoted by CalcioNapoli as saying: “I’ll just say one thing: if Spalletti works a miracle with him, I’ll take off my hat and congratulate him. Out of habit this guy doesn’t want to sacrifice himself without the ball. He’s not a playmaker and at most he can play mezzala who becomes a playmaker. I don’t expect Luciano to make him walk on the water, but if he did at least make him swim it would be a resounding success.”
Di Canio believing a ‘miracle’ is needed to make the move a success shows the negative reaction the Tottenham player is already receiving.
