Billy Gilmour joined Napoli from Brighton in the summer transfer window after a long back-and-forth around the negotiations of the move.
The Scotland international made a slow start to life in Naples but recent weeks have seen him become a regular part of Antonio Conte’s side. He has started the past two league games and impressed in a massive game against Inter Milan.
Some background about his exit from Brighton has now been provided by journalist Valter de Maggio, who spoke to Radio Goal about the midfielder.
He revealed that Gilmour was Conte’s first target, when the manager joined the Italian giants.
De Maggio said, as relayed by MondoNapoli: “I’ll reveal a behind-the-scenes story that has never come out. After Conte signed with Napoli, in the first meetings, the coach drew up, with Manna and Sinicropi , the market priorities.
“On a blackboard, the first name Conte wrote was precisely that of Gilmour from Brighton. Then Manna did a great job and brought him to Napoli.”
The journalist also revealed that Victor Osimhen’s exit was going to determine Napoli’s move for the 23-year-old.
“For Gilmour, Osimhen‘s departure was expected, Manna was good at starting negotiations to please Conte.”
Conte knows Gilmour well from his time at Chelsea and that is paying off at Napoli.
The Scotsman wasn’t always a first-choice at Brighton and while he did make 60 appearances in all competitions for the Seagulls, he was constantly rotated in and out of the side.
It shows that Conte certainly trusts a lot in the player’s qualities and if things keep going right, Gilmour could prove to be a bargain move for the Partenopei.
