Aston Villa’s Leander Dendoncker completed a loan move to Napoli in the winter market and made his debut for the Italian champions in their goalless draw against Lazio last weekend.
Radio CRC got in touch with former Anderlecht youth team manager Vincenzo Sollitto to know more about the Naples club’s new signing well and his comments are relayed by Il Napoli Online.
The Aston Villa owned player came up through the ranks of the Jupiler Pro League side’s academy before making his way into their first team in 2013. He spent five years with them and then moved to England when Wolverhampton Wanderers signed him in 2018.
Sollitto knows the Belgium international from his time at Anderlecht’s youth team and has heaped praise on his qualities. He made this claim when journalist Raffaele Auriemma asked whether the Aston Villa man is the right fit for Napoli.
“Dendoncker is the right purchase for Napoli? Napoli took him because they needed a guard. I’ve known him since 2012, he’s an all-round guy both in midfield and in defence. He’s had a gradual but important evolution,” he said.
“He was born as a central midfielder, but is very flexible in midfield. He subsequently joined the first team and had the opportunity to play both central defender and defence. We are talking about a footballer who can play many roles on the pitch.”
Sollitto has even backed the 28-year-old to replace André Zambo Anguissa at the Italian club.
“He can be a replacement for Anguissa, you have to see who he has as teammates next to him, but he has experience to fill that role. He’s an exceptional boy on a personal level and with character on the pitch,” Sollitto explained.
“He also has an important staff behind him and is managed by his brother with whom I am in contact. People who also have human values. If he hadn’t had character, maybe Mazzarri wouldn’t have put him on the pitch as soon as he arrived in Italy.”
Unai Emery didn’t offer Dendoncker regular opportunities at Aston Villa this season. He was restricted to less than 400 minutes of action from 15 games in all competitions for the Villans.
“This season, he had less playing time compared to other seasons in which he did well and with many appearances. The coach preferred other players, but it’s part of the game and that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to be part of important clubs like Napoli,” he added.
Napoli have an option to make the Belgian’s stay permanent after this season.
