Forgotten Leeds United man handed No.1 spot at Serie A title-challengers under ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
Leeds United’s former goalkeeper is enjoying a great run with Serie A leaders Napoli.
Elia Caprile has fond memories of a short Leeds United spell as the goalkeeper continues to impress with Serie A title challengers Napoli.
Caprile has been somewhat forgotten in West Yorkshire after failing to make a single first-team appearance for Leeds, having signed as a youngster from Chievo Verona in January 2020. The goalkeeper was signed by Marcelo Bielsa as an 18-year-old but never got beyond the under-23s before joining second-tier Bari in 2022.
The Italian left with little fanfare but has continued to develop in his home country, earning a surprise move to Serie A giants Napoli in 2023 and going from strength to strength. And after seeing first-choice shot-stopper Alex Meret suffer an injury, Caprile has now stepped in to start under Antonio Conte, with Napoli the early frontrunners for the title.
Caprile, still only 23-years-old, has started Napoli’s last three games, keeping clean sheets in two and winning all three. And the emerging goalkeeper has reflected on his early career in a recent interview, acknowledging Leeds’ role in his early development.
“What did the experience at Leeds leave me? It trained me on a sporting and personal level,” Caprile told Radio CRC (via Corriere dello Sport). “A new nation 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.”
While Caprile never made a first-team appearance for Leeds, there was no doubt in his potential but the young goalkeeper’s path was blocked by Illan Meslier, who had cemented himself as first-choice under Bielsa after the 2019/20 Championship title-winning season. Meslier was excellent for large parts of his side’s Premier League return, with Kiko Casilla remaining as back-up.
Caprile joined third-tier side Pro Patria on loan in 2021 before securing a permanent move to Bari the following summer, going on to prove himself as the best goalkeeper in Serie B. But his side lost a play-off final and remained in the second-tier, with the goalkeeper moving on to Napoli, who now value him around £20million.
“Why the choice of Bari in the summer? They believed in me, I was lucky with this. Bari and sporting director Polito have believed in me," Caprile told Media Gol after leaving Leeds. "Today compared to the beginning of the season I feel even more aware of my means. I think I have demonstrated first of all to myself and then also to the others that I can stay in this category."