Napoli have been the surprise package of European football this season.
Their form since the start of the campaign has been remarkable, sitting 15 points clear at the top of Serie A having won 20 of their 23 games in the league.
They also won a Champions League group that featured Liverpool, Ajax, and Rangers, before defeating Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their last-16 tie in midweek. Some of the football they have played along the way has been sensational.
🇬🇪💫 Kvaratskhelia is special. #UCL pic.twitter.com/KbyfZ8qo9S
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 7, 2022
What makes this run all the more impressive is that Napoli underwent a major rebuild over the summer. They lost long-term contributors such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz, Lorenzo Insigne, David Ospina, and Dries Merten.
Their recruitment to replace those players was remarkable. The likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Frank Anguissa, and Kim Min-jae all arrived for very reasonable fees and have gone on to star in recent months.
A lot of clubs will be looking around wondering how they missed out on a couple of these players, including Spurs.
Jose Mourinho reveals Spurs refused to sign Napoli defender
Spurs are one club who may now hold regrets, having missed out on the opportunity to sign one of those names for a knockdown fee.
Speaking recently, Jose Mourinho revealed how Spurs would not form up £10million to sign Kim Min-jae during his time at the club despite the player being keen on the deal.
I can tell you a story about one of their players. I spoke to him on FaceTime and wanted to buy him at Tottenham, but Tottenham didn’t help me.
The player cost ten million, Tottenham offered five. A deal could be done for seven or eight, but at that time Tottenham couldn’t spend money.
I spoke to the lad two or three times via FaceTime, he really wanted to come, but he couldn’t come. And now he’s that ‘rubbish’ defender who plays there, Kim.
Kim Min-jae was playing for Chinese club Beijing Guoan at the time, going on to sign for Fenerbahce for a fee of €3million that off-season.
The 26-year old South Korea star has gone from strength to strength since, starring in Turkey before moving to Napoli for €18million last summer. Were he to move again in the near future, it is likely the fee would be for a multiple of that number.
It's fair to say Spurs probably regret not pulling the trigger on that one.
SEE ALSO: The Ireland Team From Brian Kerr's Controversial First Qualifier - Where Are They Now?
