Armando Broja returned to Chelsea in the summer after enjoying an impressive loan spell at Southampton last season.
Thomas Tuchel was then in charge at the west London club and included the striker in his plans this season, after letting Romelu Lukaku [on loan] and Timo Werner leave in the last window.
The Albania international was wanted by a few clubs in Serie A, but he turned them down in order to continue at Chelsea. He even signed a new long-term contract with the Blues a day after the window closed.
TuttoMercatoWeb have a detailed interview with Albania manager Edoardo Reja, where he revealed Napoli tried signing the 21-year-old in the summer.
When asked about Atalanta, Napoli and AC Milan’s efforts to sign the Chelsea player, Reja said: “It’s true, Napoli above all wanted him. [Napoli sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli was interested, I know he even spoke to us… But he aimed to stay at Chelsea, a club that then also renewed his contract.”
“I was talking to Giuntoli, because he’s the one who deals with the transfer market. And then I hear the president never takes part in these talks, he doesn’t deal with technical issues. He just wants to know if the players are physically okay.”
Over at Chelsea, they showed the exit door to Tuchel and appointed Graham Potter as his successor in September.
Broja has not enjoyed ample game time under the former Brighton manager and has managed only three starts in all competitions. Reja is not pleased with the frontman’s development at Chelsea this season.
“He has great potential. He’s a well-structured player, 190 cm tall, has technique and great pace, you don’t catch him when he starts,” the Albania manager explained.
“He has only one phase, which is possession. He should improve the second one because when it is over the action helps little. From this point of view, he’s doing a little better this year, but certainly the fact that he plays 20, or at most 30, minutes doesn’t help him.”
