:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17859045/158636748.0.jpg)
During his first stint at Napoli, Emanuele Calaiò was a hero. He joined the club back in 2005, midway through Napoli's first season in C1. His 18 goals the next season helped bring the partenopei up to Serie B, and the 14 he scored in 2006-2007 helped his side jump back into the first division.
But Calaiò's hero status isn't enough to keep him around at Napoli. The forward saw just six league appearances last season under Walter Mazzarri, after transferring midseason from Siena. During the preseason new boss Rafa Benítez trotted him out a few times, including a start against Porto. Playing up front with Pandev, Calaiò made it clear that a block of rotting wood would be more effective at leading the line.
And so on Wednesday, Napoli let the 31 year old know that he could find a new club. It seems newcomers Livorno and slumping Genoa might both be interested. Calaiò may have been a hero, but sometimes it's best to let those saviors go rather than watch them slowly turn to dust.