Federico Gatti reveals why he snubbed Conte and Napoli

Federico Gatti has reaffirmed his commitment to Juventus, despite a serious attempt from Napoli to sign him during this summer transfer window.

Speaking to the media from the Bianconeri’s training camp in Herzogenaurach, Germany, Gatti opened up about a variety of topics — from transfer speculation to his physical condition after a lengthy injury.

At the heart of the interview was the strong interest shown by Napoli, who reportedly made a concrete effort to sign Gatti to reinforce their backline under new manager Antonio Conte.

Gatti acknowledged and appreciated the approach but made it clear that leaving Juventus was never truly an option.

Federico Gatti of Juventus celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg match between Juventus…

He explained that while it was flattering to receive attention from a coach of Conte’s caliber and from Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna, his bond with Juventus and the city of Turin ultimately outweighed everything else.

“It made me really happy to see interest from a coach like Conte, who is one of the top managers in the world, and from director Manna,” he said. “I’m very grateful to them — they really tried to bring me to Napoli. But I chose to follow my heart.”

He then emphasized that his commitment to Juventus has never wavered, as he extended his contract with the Bianconeri till June 2030 last month.

“No, I never questioned my future here. This is a family, Turin is my home, I grew up here. Honestly, the choice was quite easy,” he said.

Gatti also addressed his physical condition, following a difficult three-and-a-half-month spell on the sidelines due to injury.

Winning goalscorer Federico Gatti of Juventus thorws his shirt to the fans following the final whistle of during the Serie A TIM match between AC…

The recovery process, he admitted, was harder than expected — especially considering his physical stature and the nature of the injury.

“I’m feeling better. It was hard, especially with my build — being out for three and a half months wasn’t something I had planned. Coming back was complicated,” he said.

However, he also shared some optimism, saying he’s been training consistently for nearly two weeks and feels improvement:

“Luckily now it’s been ten days, almost two weeks. I’m putting fuel in the tank. I’ll need matches to build up stamina, he said.

With a new season approaching and Igor Tudor at the helm of Juventus, Gatti seems determined to regain full fitness and earn his place in the squad.