Giovanni Manna, blue heart on holiday: meeting with the Maradona Club of Ischia

In recent days, during a short holiday in Lacco Ameno, on the island of Ischia at the Hotel della Regina Isabella, a well-known hotel structure - his first visit to the island - the Sporting Director of the 2024/2025 Italian Champions, Giovanni Manna, was warmly welcomed by the managers of the Club Napoli Isola d'Ischia "Diego Armando Maradona", Michele Patalano and Michele Mattera, unfortunately the other members of the board Alessandro Viola, Gigi Cigliano and Gabriele Silvestri were absent due to work commitments.

The meeting was an opportunity to thank him, first of all, for the emotions given by the Azzurri during this extraordinary season and for the determination shown since his first day in blue. As a sign of esteem and gratitude, the Director autographed some precious shirts from Michele Mattera's collection: Alessandro Buongiorno's number 4, symbolic of the four scudetti won so far and then his first purchase in blue and Scott McTominay's number 8, a fabulous purchase taken on a transfer opportunity and at a sale price considered the symbolic player of the devastating year in our Serie A in his first year.

He also signed and left a dedication on the official pennant of SSC Napoli. Manna was also honored with a beautiful artistic ceramic made especially by the President of the Club, as well as artist, Michele Patalano, aka “Mikelart”, a gift that he greatly appreciated.

During the meeting, the Sporting Director's phone never stopped ringing, a sign of the great commitment and incessant work related to the transfer market of these days with many negotiations underway. Manna expressed his satisfaction for the reconfirmation of mister Antonio Conte and for the opportunity to work in a passionate city like Naples, surrounded by extraordinary fans and within an ambitious club like Napoli, led with determination by President Aurelio De Laurentiis.

He also confided that the emotions he experienced – and continues to experience – meeting so many fans, will remain forever among his most beautiful and indelible memories. Before leaving, he left the door open for a future moment of relaxation on the island, weather and transfer market permitting.