AMBROSINO CELTIC SETBACK: CREMONESE AND CAGLIARI ENTER THE FRAY
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
Celtic continue to negotiate with the representatives of Napoli’s Italian under-21 international striker Giuseppe Ambrosino.
However, according to reports out of Italy this morning, we are not the only team to declare a firm interest in landing the talented forward.
Giuseppe Ambrosino: Celtic Face Competition from Within Italy
They say that “money talks”. Whilst Celtic continue to talk with Ambrosino’s agents, newly promoted Serie A side Cremonese have been the first to put their money down on the table.
The team from Cremona have made an offer of around £2.5 million pounds to land Ambrosino on a permanent deal.
The source for this latest update is Italian journalist Orazio Accomando, of Italian news outlet sportsmediaset. He also adds that Cagliari are monitoring the situation and may well be preparing a bid of their own.
Now, Celtic still have the advantage here, having already spoken with the player’s management directly.
There is no indication that Ambrosino would give up challenging for the title and, hopefully, playing in the Champions League with Celtic for a battle against relegation with Cremonese.
Cagliari, despite their proud history, are also a bit of a mid-table side at the moment (finishing 15th in Serie A last season) and unlikely to be pushing for Europe next season.
For a player like Ambrosino looking to build his international profile and gain experience at the highest level possible, Celtic remain far and away the most attractive of the options presented to him thus far.
However, this is one of Europe’s most promising young talents, albeit a somewhat raw and unrefined talent, that we are talking about. I doubt these two Serie A sides are the only ones interested in the player.
Celtic will have to move quickly if they want to conclude this deal.
With that being said, I personally still think, given his age and lack of top level experience that a loan with an option to buy is the best way for Celtic to go about this deal at the moment.
Napoli, as Italian champions, and guaranteed tens of millions in TV money and Champions League revenue this coming season, won’t be in a rush to sell the player. It’s not like they need that 2.5 million to stave off the liquidators!
So a loan may actually be their preferred option at this time too. However, from Celtic’s perspective, there needs to be an option to buy, at a reasonable price, included, otherwise this deal isn't worthy of our time.
It is not Celtic’s job to develop Napoli’s players for them.
I hope that last season’s short term loan of Alex Valle represents the last time Celtic will take such a prospect on loan without having some kind of option to buy at the end of the deal.
