:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50151921/GettyImages-483737604.0.jpg)
Poor Davide Santon. All he wants is a club that will love him (aka play him). After returning to Inter to find that there were too many fullbacks for Mancini to choose from and only racking up 13 appearances, he decided to look for a new home this summer. Roberto Mancini was clearly okay with the Italian fullback moving on and it seemed that a simple transfer was inevitable. Unfortunately his situation has been anything but simple.
First he looked towards a return to the Premier League with Sunderland. A transfer fee was agreed to between the two clubs, Santon agreed to a contract and he flew out to England for his medical and to sign on the dotted line but at the last second they tried to change his contract which killed the deal. He returned to Inter's training camp in Brunico disappointed but sure that he could find another club that was willing to sign him. Then Napoli came calling and I'm sure the 25 year old was ecstatic that he would be able to get playing time at a big club. Just like before Inter and Napoli agreed to a fee, Santon and the club settled on wages and image rights, and the player did not leave with the Inter squad for the USA tour in order to take his medical and sign for the Partenopei. Just as it looked like he had finally secured his move things fell apart yet again.
Initial reports suggested that during Santon's medical tests, the doctors discovered that he had some potential issues with his knee. It turns out however that he didn't have any problems there, the problem was with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis. According to him Santon lacks the characteristics that he wants for his team. Whatever that might mean, it sounds like everything was set for a transfer but ADL decided to veto the move because he doesn't like Santon.
For now Santon will likely return to Inter's training camp at Appanio until he decides to make his next move. Either he can try to find a third club that would be interested in his signature, or he can stay and fight for a spot at Inter (I'm hoping for the latter, I feel like he can be useful this season with the Nerazzurri fighting in three competitions).