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August 6, 2024

Antonio Conte’s Napoli Revival at Risk of becoming a Nightmare: What is going wrong?

Antonio Conte’s arrival at Napoli was a breath of fresh air for the fans after the nightmare of 2023/24. Still, the transfer window is descending into a farce, and the coach will make his feelings known.

Napoli fans are desperate to put the disaster of the 2024/25 season behind them, and Antonio Conte’s appointment initially seemed like the perfect solution to begin a new chapter. Conte’s track record of turning underperforming teams into title contenders made his arrival a beacon of hope for the Partenopei faithful. Yet, less than a week before the season opener, the optimism surrounding his appointment is quickly fading, leaving many to wonder why the situation looks so dire.

The 2024/25 campaign was a historic low for Napoli. The team’s form collapsed spectacularly after securing their long-awaited Serie A title just a year prior. The Partenopei suffered the worst title defense in Serie A history, plummeting to tenth place in the standings—a staggering 41 points behind champions Inter Milan. Napoli’s dramatic fall from grace was primarily attributed to poor managerial decisions. 

President Aurelio De Laurentiis made one misstep after another, hiring and firing coaches in rapid succession. Once expected to stabilize the team, Rudi Garcia faltered quickly, followed by brief and ineffective stints from Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona, all of which contributed to a chaotic and disappointing season.

In an attempt to course-correct, De Laurentiis turned to Antonio Conte, luring him back from a brief hiatus from football management. Known for his intensity and tactical acumen, Conte’s appointment was a clear statement of intent: Napoli wanted to compete at the highest level once again. Conte’s arrival, however, comes with its own set of demands and expectations. While the coach brings proven success, his reputation for being uncompromising is well known, and he has already made it clear that he won’t tolerate anything less than a squad capable of competing for major honors.

The problem now lies with De Laurentiis and Napoli’s transfer strategy. Conte has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the club’s summer transfer window, which he views as underwhelming and lacking ambition. Despite De Laurentiis’ best efforts to show ambition with the Conte appointment, the coach is unlikely to be appeased by a squad that hasn’t been sufficiently bolstered to challenge for silverware. Conte’s tenure at Napoli could quickly turn sour without the proper reinforcements. The clock is ticking for the president to secure the signings needed to support the coach’s vision and prevent another turbulent season for the club.

The Lukaku-Osimhen Dilemma

Napoli’s biggest challenge is balancing the future of their world-class striker, Victor Osimhen, with their coach’s desire for a different forward.

Osimhen has long been the subject of interest from Chelsea and other top clubs. Still, Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined to avoid a cut-price sale, holding firm on the Nigerian’s €120m release clause.

However, to sign Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, Napoli must raise significant funds for the transfer fee and the Belgian’s salary.

According to a recent report by Gianluca Di Marzio, Conte threatened to leave if he wasn’t provided with a striker, midfielder, and winger within 48 hours, with Christian Stellini reportedly ready to step in. Though the deadline has passed and Conte remains, his history shows he’s capable of making such moves, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Chelsea and Conte May Be Looking Elsewhere

Osimhen has been absent from Napoli’s last four friendly matches, which leaves the club in a precarious situation. If they fail to sell him, they’ll be left with a valuable asset who hasn’t adequately prepared for the season and whose market value may decline.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is pushing to sign Samu Omorodion from Atlético Madrid in a €50m deal, which will likely end any chance of them pursuing Osimhen. However, they still need to offload Romelu Lukaku, who remains their highest earner and is not in the club’s plans for the new season.

Napoli may raise funds by selling other players like Giovanni Simeone and Gianluca Gaetano. So far, the only significant transfer fee they’ve received this summer was the €7m from Stade Rennes for Leo Østigård. Meanwhile, they’ve spent €47m on defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Rafa Marín to address squad issues.

More than two new center-backs will be needed to fix a squad that finished 41 points behind the top last season. If recruitment promises were made, Conte has every reason to feel he’s being underequipped. Billy Gilmour is expected to join from Brighton as a midfield option, and it’s a positive sign that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia seems settled and staying at the club.

Napoli faces Modena in the Coppa Italia on August 10 before kicking off their Serie A season away at Verona on August 18. If Conte feels the squad isn’t up to his standards, he will likely voice his concerns privately and publicly.

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