‘A huge mistake’ — Cassano explains how Napoli’s failure to sign Lookman could cost them the Scudetto

The Georgian international joined Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month in a deal worth €75 million.

The Serie A leaders were expected to replace the 23-year-old with a suitable forward using some proceeds from the player’s transfer.

Among the options the Neapolitans were considering were Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, and Allan Saint-Maximin from Fenerbahce.

They couldn’t sanction any of these signings and instead opted for Milan’s Noah Okafor on a loan deal with an option to buy.

This move by the Naples-based club has been heavily criticized by Cassano, who believes Napoli could have used €55 million from Kvaratskhelia’s transfer to trigger Ademola Lookman’s release clause.

“In February, no one imagined that Napoli would be first, without conceding too many games, and what do you do? You take €75 million from Kvara and buy Okafor on loan. For me, it was the wrong strategy,” he told Viva El Futbol via Il Napoli.

“So I say… you took 75 million, Lookman’s release clause (even if he’s injured now) is 55 million… you give them Raspadori and you take a ready player who makes the difference, knows Serie A, and Inter should be afraid,” he said.

The former Real Madrid forward described the decision to sign Okafor as a huge mistake.

“A huge mistake not to take a high-level player to replace Kvara. In my opinion, the club thought that arriving in the top four was a miracle and that next year you could spend a nest egg. Conte will be fuming.”