After being on loan for one year, Goran Pandev today officially completed his permanent move to Napoli and thus ending his adventure with Inter.
It’s official, Goran Pandev is no longer a loaned player as he completed his permanent move to Napoli. The club Presidents of Napoli and Inter, Aurelio De Laurentis and Massimo Moratti, reached an agreement for a fee of 7.5 million Euros, making Pandev the most expensive transfer of any Macedonian player. Goran signed a 3 year contract until 2015 with an option for an additional season.
“At 9 o’clock we were in the office to sign Pandev’s contract, now he is totally our player. We paid 7.5 million Euros, Goran signed for 3 years plus an option for an additional season. We are happy and the player is also very satisfied. We solved our first problem in the attack. Goran is a very good guy, and strong technically as a player. Pandev is a mature man, will turn 29 years old in July, and is in the middle of his maturity. I wish not only for Pandev to play for us in the next four years, but also for him to have a longer career with Napoli. Pandev has been very generous, a gentleman, because he understood and agreed to earn less than what he made at Inter, respecting our project that is in line with the financial fair-play.” – Napoli’s president was quoted on the club’s official website.
Meanwhile, Pandev was very happy to finally settle down after the various speculations about his future: “I’m in seventh heaven right now. After this year, in which I felt like being at home, I wanted to remain with Napoli so much, no matter the consequences. I thank the president De Laurentis who was always there for me. I believe very much in his project and I’m convinced that the Coppa Italia trophy was only the beginning of great things for Napoli.”
Pandev, during his one year loan spell at Napoli, had a successful season despite most of his appearances coming from the bench. Goran scored a total of 7 goals, 6 of them in Serie A and one in the domestic cup. He partook in 30 league games, 5 Coppa Italia matches and 7 Champions League encounters. Napoli was eliminated in the Champions League to the eventual winners of the competition in English side Chelsea. Meanwhile, Napoli won the Coppa Italia trophy by defeating Juventus, and will compete in the Europa League next season after failing to qualify for the more prestigious Champions League.