ROME, ITALY - MARCH 01: Federico Gatti of Juventus celebrates scoring their third goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - MARCH 01: Federico Gatti of Juventus celebrates scoring their third goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Max Allegri is eager to reunite with Federico Gatti, as it’s reported Napoli asked Juventus to let the defender leave on loan with option to buy.
It is no secret that the Partenopei need reinforcements in defence, as Juan Jesus left at the end of his contract, while Alessandro Buongiorno will be out for at least two to three months following knee surgery.
A more expensive alternative is Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea, but the €30m asking price and reticence to let him go on loan with an option to buy make that difficult.
Napoli step up Gatti pursuit
TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Federico Gatti of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Federico Gatti of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Instead, Sky Sport Italia transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio claims this evening that Napoli have stepped up talks with Juventus for Gatti.
He already knows new coach Allegri well from their time together in Turin, and the 28-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at Juve under Luciano Spalletti.
This too will be a loan with option to buy, and it remains to be seen if Juventus will accept those terms.
The Italy international made only 28 competitive appearances last season, partly stalled by a knee injury in December 2025, yet still contributed four goals from defence.