Morgan De Sanctis, the director of Salernitana, acknowledges it was a mistake not to send Boulaye Dia to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the summer transfer window, despite the fact that the offer for the Granata was ‘offensive.’
Dia was the highest scorer at the Stadio Arechi last season, with 16 goals in 33 Serie A gastarmes. The 27-year-old’s performances in his first season in Italy’s top division led Salernitana to make his loan move from Villarreal permanent for €12 million, although Wolves made a deadline-day bid to sign him last summer.
De Sanctis announced Wolves’ offer during a press conference in September, claiming he would ‘not forget’ what Wolverhampton had done.
The Premier League club wanted to sign Dia on loan and had spoken to him without the permission of Salernitana, which infuriated De Sanctis.
Dia was initially pulled out of the squad for a few games due to his desire to move to England, but when he returned, he scored four goals in ten Serie A games.
Nonetheless, De Sanctis laments the failure to sell the Senegal international last summer.
“For now, yes, but he was our best striker with 16 goals, only two fewer than Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez,” he remarked in an interview with Il Corriere dello Sport on Friday, page 21.
“We could not have replaced him if we had received an offer from England on the last day of the transfer window.” To have him on loan was an offensive offer. What would people have thought of us and me if we had finished the operation?”
De Sanctis went on to say that it was a mistake to “underestimate somebody’s desire to leave,” referring former coach Paulo Sousa.
The Portuguese strategist met Napoli over the summer but was unable to strike a deal with the Partenopei and was forced to return to Salerno.
“It was legitimate, but as President Iervolino has said, from that moment on, the love produced disorders,” De Sanctis, a former Roma and Napoli goalkeeper, admitted.
“I thought we could still be the team that, under Sousa, conceded only 1.25 goals per game, scored 1.43 goals per game, and earned 21 points in 16 games.” But that mechanism was no longer functional. The proof came in the form of three points in eight games, which was perfectly possible.”
After eight games this season, Sousa was fired and replaced by Filippo Inzaghi.
“Pippo has brought his experience to bear in the face of a surreal phase,” De Sanctis added.
“His work starts taking shape, but he must be helped by the lads and the fans, who are amazing and don’t want to give up, just like us.”
Salernitana have only won one game this season and currently lie at the bottom of Serie A with eight points from 14 games.
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