Bari prosecutors investigate Elia Caprile transfer to Napoli

The Bari Prosecutor's Office is investigating the transfer of goalkeeper Elia Caprile from Bari to Napoli for €2.2 million, alleging the transaction may have economically disadvantaged Bari to the benefit of clubs linked to the De Laurentiis family.

A key element of the investigation involves a valuation report signed in July 2023 by sports executive Claudio Garzelli. Prosecutors claim the report contained significant errors, most notably an incorrect birth date for Caprile. The document listed him as being born in 1997, making him 26 years old at the time, whereas his actual birth date is August 25, 2001, making him 21.

Legal consultants for the prosecution argue that this error is not marginal, as age is a critical parameter in determining a player's market value. They contend there is a substantial difference in potential value between a 26-year-old goalkeeper with limited first-team experience and a 21-year-old who had recently played a starring role in Serie B. Bari maintains the operation was appropriate.