Albania manager Edoardo Reja has revealed Italian side Napoli did everything to sign 21 year old Chelsea striker Armando Broja in the summer after an impressive loan spell at Southampton last season.

When asked about Atalanta, Napoli and AC Milan’s efforts to sign the Chelsea player, Reja told TuttoMercatoWeb: “It’s true, Napoli above all wanted him. [Napoli sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli was interested, I know he even spoke to us… But he aimed to stay at Chelsea, a club that then also renewed his contract.

“I was talking to Giuntoli, because he’s the one who deals with the transfer market. And then I hear the president never takes part in these talks, he doesn’t deal with technical issues. He just wants to know if the players are physically okay.”

Reja also revealed he’s not pleased with Broja’s lack of gametime at Chelsea.

“He has great potential. He’s a well-structured player, 190 cm tall, has technique and great pace, you don’t catch him when he starts,” the Albania manager explained.

“He has only one phase, which is possession. He should improve the second one because when it is over the action helps little. From this point of view, he’s doing a little better this year, but certainly the fact that he plays 20, or at most 30, minutes doesn’t help him.”