To say that Napoli struggled in their Serie A title defence last season is a significant understatement. Incredibly, they finished eight places lower than in 2023/24, while winning a staggering 15 fewer matches and losing on seven more occasions.
Their 2023/24 tally of just 53 points was also 37 points lower than their title-winning haul, while they scored 22 goals fewer and conceded 48 times (as opposed to 28).
However, Napoli have since appointed four-time Scudetto winner Antonio Conte to be their manager ahead of the new season. The former Juve and Inter Milan boss is also closing in on the signing of Chelsea hitman Romelu Lukaku, but how crucial could this be in determining Napoli’s renewed title charge?
New Arrivals and Departures – Napoli’s Summer so Far
According to the leading crypto betting sites in India, Napoli are the fourth favourites to win the Scudetto in 2024/25.
The arrival of Conte has seen their odds shorten, however, with the decorated 55-year-old having won eight major honours during his career (including five major European titles). He has also accumulated an impressive win rate of 58.08%, prevailing in 356 of his 613 matches and losing on just 114 occasions.
Conte has also been busy in the transfer market since his arrival, selling defender Leo Østigård to Rennes and loaning out Jesper Lindstrøm to Everton. He also oversaw the release of the 30-year-old Pole Piotr Zieliński in midfield, while Alessandro Zanoli departed on a free transfer too.
In terms of arrivals, Italian international and Euro 2024 defender Alessandro Buongiorno has been signed from Torino for €35 million. Rafa Marin has also been snapped up from Real Madrid for €12 million, while the dynamic left back Leonardo Spinazzola has joined on a free transfer after his Rom contract expired.
Young midfielder Matija Popovic has also signed from AC Monza on a free, bolstering Napoli’s creative ability and providing youthful verve in the middle of the park.
What Will Lukaku Bring?
Despite Aston Villa launching a shock bid for Chelsea’s Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku, the prolific striker is keen on a move to Naples. So, if Conte’s side can agree terms, Lukaku is likely to make a return to Serie A this pre-season.
Napoli’s hand is also strengthened by Chelsea’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen. In fact, Lukaku could be used as a makeweight to sign Osimhen in a player-plus-cash deal, enabling the transfer to be completed much quicker.
This would reunite Conte with Lukaku, with the two having teamed up to devastating effect at Inter Milan between May 2019 and May 2021. During these two campaigns (which saw Inter win the 2020/21 Serie A title and reach a Europa League final), Lukaku plundered 47 league goals in 72 matches, and 64 in 95 overall (at a rate of 0.67 per 90 minutes).
Certainly, Lukaku’s raw pace and power suits Conte’s counter attacking style, which is built on solid defence and seeks to launch swift and direct offensive transitions. This will enable Napoli to draw their opponents on and create space in behind for Lukaku to exploit, creating an exciting prospect for Neapolitans in the 2024/25 campaign.
Remember, Lukaku has also scored 301 goals in 636 career appearances, and in partnership with the astute Conte, could well power Napoli to a title challenge this season if he makes the switch from London.