Empoli midfielder Riccardo Saponara admits a move to Napoli was close over the summer.
Saponara is being linked with Everton this week.
And he told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Napoli has been the only possible operation of my summer.
"Empoli refused and I did not have to decide, because it would be difficult to refuse.
"Empoli's fine, but Napoli is a great place."