Elia Caprile speaks out about his time at Leeds United as he starts to shine at Napoli
Elia Caprile has reflected on his time at Leeds United as he starts to impress for Serie A club Napoli.
The goalkeeper spent two and a half years at Elland Road after joining them from Chievo Verona in January 2020.
Although Caprile did not make a single senior appearance and was sold to Bari in July 2022, he holds his time at Leeds in high regard.
“It trained me on a sporting and personal level”, Caprile told Radio CRC, as transcribed by Area Napoli [9 October].
“[Playing in] a new country, learning the language and going through the pandemic alone, all of this helped me.
Every coach left me something, improved me on a technical and personal level”.
Former Leeds United man Elia Caprile is shining at Napoli
Caprile’s performances for Bari in the 2022-23 season earned him a £6 million move to Napoli the following summer, with Leeds United receiving a £3 million windfall.
The Italian spent the last season on loan at Empoli, but has since returned to the Naples outfit.
Although Caprile began the season as the deputy to Alex Meret, he got his chance to shine after the 27-year-old suffered an injury against Juventus on 21 September.
The former Leeds United goalkeeper helped Napoli to a 0-0 draw in Turin that day and has since kept two more clean sheets in three games in all competitions.
Caprile has, therefore, helped Napoli remain atop the Serie A table in Meret’s absence.
However, it remains to be seen if Antonio Conte will continue to play him between the sticks when Meret eventually returns.
Leeds United fans, meanwhile, could be wondering if the club made the right decision by selling Caprile two years ago.
In other Leeds United news, Don Goodman has insisted that no player is irreplaceable at Elland Road.
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