Napoli reject Nottingham Forest offer for Olivera
By 247sportcity | Wednesday, January 21, 2026
NAPLES – Nottingham Forest’s aggressive January recruitment drive in Italy has suffered a major blow. Napoli have officially rejected a formal approach for Uruguayan left-back Mathías Olivera, delivering a stern “not for sale” message to the City Ground hierarchy.
Despite Forest presenting what was described as a “significant opening offer”—reported to be in the region of €15 million (£12.6m)—Napoli president Claudio Lotito and manager Antonio Conte have closed the door on a mid-season exit. With the Partenopei currently sitting 3rd in Serie A and defending their Scudetto title, Conte views the 28-year-old as an “untouchable” component of his defensive rotation.
The “Conte Wall”: Why Napoli Refused to Budge
The rejection isn’t merely about the money—though reports from TuttoMercatoWeb suggest Napoli value the player closer to €25 million (£21m).1 The decision is rooted in a tactical “emergency” at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona:
- Depth Deficit: Napoli are currently navigating a congested fixture list across Serie A and the Champions League. With Leonardo Spinazzola recently struggling with fitness, Olivera is the only specialist left-back Conte trusts in high-stakes matches.
- The “Zinchenko” Domino: Forest’s pursuit of Olivera was triggered by their own internal crisis. Oleksandr Zinchenko, currently on loan at Forest from Arsenal, is expected to cut his stay short this week to join Ajax, leaving Sean Dyche desperate for an elite replacement.2
- Squad Balance: While Napoli need to raise funds to finalize a permanent deal for Lorenzo Lucca (who ironically is also a Forest target), they refuse to weaken a defensive line that Conte has spent months perfecting.
[Table: The Olivera Standoff — Market Reality]
| Metric | Detail | The Conflict |
| Forest Offer | €15,000,000 | Deemed “insulting” by the Napoli board |
| Napoli Valuation | €25,000,000 | A £10m gap remains between the clubs |
| Player Desire | Wants more minutes | Open to the move but won’t force an exit |
| The Conte Factor | “Non-Transferable” | View him as essential cover for the title race |
| Alternative Target | Jayden Oosterwolde | Forest have already contacted Fenerbahçe |
The Wider “Italy Raid”: Forest’s Strategic Pivot
Nottingham Forest have clearly identified Serie A as their primary hunting ground this winter. Beyond Olivera, the club is currently engaged in “complex” multi-player negotiations with Napoli that include:
- Lorenzo Lucca: Forest are battling Pisa to sign the towering striker on a permanent deal.
- Dan Ndoye: Reports suggest Forest offered the former Bologna winger to Napoli as a “makeweight” to lower Olivera’s price, but Napoli prefer a straight cash deal.
The “Plan B” Scramble
With the February 2nd deadline looming, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has reportedly instructed the recruitment team to pivot. If a second, improved bid for Olivera fails, the club will move for Fenerbahçe’s Jayden Oosterwolde or consider a loan move for Liverpool’s out-of-favour defender Kostas Tsimikas, who is currently on a lackluster loan at AS Roma.
Final Verdict: A Test of Resolve
For Forest, the rejection is a setback in their quest to climb the Premier League table under Sean Dyche. For Napoli, it is a statement of intent: they are prioritizing silverware over short-term profit. Unless Forest return with a bid that nears the €25m mark in the next 48 hours, Mathías Olivera will be staying in Naples.