Aurelio De Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, is turning to former Juventus, Inter, and Tottenham coach Antonio Conte as he aims to replicate the impressive performance of the 2022-23 season. The club is looking to bounce back after a challenging previous campaign, and with a seasoned tactician at the helm and no European commitments, Napoli fans can dare to dream. For fantasy football managers as well, the Naples team holds great potential this season.
As the transfer market unfolds, all eyes are on Victor Osimhen’s situation, but Napoli has already made significant defensive reinforcements. Alessandro Buongiorno has arrived from Torino, and young Rafa Marin has joined the club from Real Madrid following a loan spell at Alaves. Napoli also secured Leonardo Spinazzola on a free transfer for the left flank. Additionally, returning from loans are goalkeeper Caprile, midfielder Folorunsho, and forward Cheddira, adding depth to the squad.
The impact of Conte’s management style is noteworthy; he has a knack for transforming teams into solid defenses. This makes Buongiorno a player to watch in fantasy leagues as he was one of the highest-scoring defenders last season, averaging 6.8 points per match and contributing three goals.
Another key player is Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is expected to bounce back after a dip in form last season. Conte has reportedly identified him as a potential leader for the squad. With his previous tally of 12 goals and 10 assists during the title-winning season, a repeat performance isn’t out of reach.
Conte’s tactics often emphasize wing play, and if Leonardo Spinazzola can maintain his fitness, he could be a crucial addition this season given his ability to contribute offensively. Michael Folorunsho may not have a guaranteed starting spot at the open of the season, but his skill set as a dual-phase player could appeal to Conte.
The anticipated starting lineup in a 3-4-2-1 formation could look like this: Meret; Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Marin; Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka, Spinazzola; Politano, Kvaratskhelia; Osimhen.
There are some intriguing player pairs as well, with potential rotations between Spinazzola and Olivera, Anguissa and Folorunsho, and Politano and Ngonge. For set pieces, Osimhen, Politano, and Kvaratskhelia are expected to take penalties, while Politano, Kvaratskhelia, and Mario Rui could handle free kicks.
As Napoli embarks on this new season with fresh ambitions, their fans and fantasy players alike will be eager to see how Conte’s promising vision unfolds.