Football Season Guide

The last season was an absolutely memorable one for Napoli, who won their 3rd Scudetto ever, their first one after the end of the Maradona era. They were simply superior to all the other opponents, as they held both the league’s best attack, with 77 goals scored, and the best defence, with 28 goals conceded. Had they not slowed down since mid-April, they would have finished more than 16 points clear at the top. However, the Cups represented major disappointments for them as they were eliminated from the Coppa Italia by then-relegated Cremonese and saw their Champions League march come to an end in the quarterfinals, at the hands of Milan.   Tired of having to deal with President De Laurentiis, coach Luciano Spalletti surprisingly decided to quit the club and he was immediately replaced by Rudi Garcia, who obtained 2 second places with Roma but failed to fight for the title in the subsequent experiences in France, at Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais.  The transfer campaign has been very slow for Napoli thus far. In fact, they immediately signed permanently the likes of forwards Raspadori and Simeone and then, eventually, they obtained back-up goalie Gollini’s permanence for onemore year. Then, they suffered their major loss in centre-back Kim, who was attracted by Bayern Munich. 22-year-old Natan arrived from Red Bull Bragantino in order to replace him in the heart of the defence. With Bereszynski returned to Sampdoria, they now lack an alternative at right-back, while they might be a bit short in the midfield with Ndombélé back to Tottenham. If Osimhen, 31 goals and 5 assists overall last season, leaves for Saudi Arabia, they will not have an easy life replacing him up-front.