Aston Villa’s Leander Dendoncker was restricted to a limited role under Unai Emery in the first half of the season and that convinced him to join Napoli on a loan deal with an option to buy in the winter market.
The midfielder was hoping to enjoy regular game time, in order to make it to the Belgium squad for the Euros. That hasn’t happened so far as he’s clocked in just 21 minutes from three games for the Serie A side.
Today’s Corriere dello Sport takes a look the Aston Villa player’s ‘strange situation’ at Napoli.
Walter Mazzarri was in charge when the 28-year-old arrived at the Naples club. He was shown the exit door on February 19th and replaced by Francesco Calzona.
On February 28th, Dendoncker came off the bench in Napoli’s 6-1 win over Sassuolo, and that was his last appearance for the Italian club.
Calzona hasn’t relied upon the Aston Villa man since then and Corriere claim ‘everything else is boredom, boredom of days like this’ for him.
Dendoncker’s situation at Napoli is a ‘mystery’, but what seems to be clear is that they will not exercise the buying option, and he will return to Aston Villa after this season.
However, Corriere dello Sport do point out it’s the player’s birthday on Monday and he’ll be able to celebrate it in Naples.
A pizza compensation, if you please.
