Antonio Conte slammed for keeping Napoli players hostage

Antonio Conte slammed for keeping Napoli players hostage

Mario Guiffredi, agent of Luca Marianucci and Giuseppe Ambrosino has hurled a scornful attack on Antonio Conte accusing the Napoli manager lacking the courage to use the youngsters and holding them hostage.

This comes in the wake of the Parthenopeans’ unispiring 1-1 draw against Danish side FC Copenhagen.

"I will not let myself be mocked by him. It’s just shockingly ridiculous. If Conte lacks the courage to use young players, that is not my problem,” said Guiffredi.

“Allegri plays Bartesaghi, who was in the Under-23 side that got relegated, at Milan. Bernasconi played for the Atalanta Under-23 team and he starts with both Juric and Palladino as coach.

"Francesco Pio Esposito plays regularly for Inter, Gasperini picked a player born in 2009 like Arena, who a year ago was in Serie C."

"Conte has to decide if Marianucci and Ambrosino are Napoli players. If they are, then he must have the courage to actually use them,” continued Giuffredi. "That does not mean a few minutes every 10 years! Otherwise, just say they don’t belong at Napoli, and let them prove themselves elsewhere.

"He cannot just continue to keep them hostage. We already had an agreement in place with Cremonese and Venezia for these players, but for the last month this man has refused to let the players go. If he keeps them here and then doesn’t even give them a minute on the field, then what is it for?"