Lorenzo Lucca`s recent move from Udinese to Napoli remarkably mirrors the journey undertaken by Andrea Carnevale back in 1984. Carnevale, who currently serves as the head of scouting for the Friulian club, enjoyed an immensely successful period with the Partenopei. His tenure alongside the legendary Diego Maradona saw Napoli secure two Scudetti, a UEFA Cup, and a Coppa Italia. This historical parallel sets an auspicious precedent for the young Italian forward.
The striking analogy was even pointed out by Carnevale himself during an interview conducted with TuttoMercatoWeb.com in late May. In that conversation, he directly compared Lucca`s current situation to his own past experiences.
During the interview, Carnevale expressed: `Lucca has truly come into his own. He reminds me of myself in `86, when I moved to Napoli (laughs). He`s following the same trajectory I did. While I don`t know if he`ll end up at Napoli, Juventus, AC Milan, or Inter, he`s a true penalty box predator. He has the potential for much more; for a period, Udinese missed Thauvin, who helped him make a difference. But in my opinion, he can reach an elite level. It`s no coincidence that Spalletti is considering him for the National team; he knows he`s indispensable.`
In his inaugural season with Napoli during 1986/87, Carnevale made an impressive impact, netting 14 goals across the league, Coppa Italia, and UEFA Cup competitions. Crucially, he immediately secured both the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia in that very first year. Lucca now undoubtedly harbours the hope of replicating this successful trajectory and achieving similar glory in his new colours.
