Allegri confirms Anguissa, Olivera and Alisson back Wednesday

The head coach used his pre-Villarreal press conference to rule out a fixed starting eleven, pointing to recent recalls for Rafa Marín, Lang and Badiashile as proof.

by Gennaro SanninoTuesday 13 October, 13:24 CET· 1 hour ago

Allegri — Foto: calciomercato.com

Allegri told his press conference on Monday 12 October, on the eve of Napoli's Champions League trip to Villarreal, that three long-term absentees will rejoin the group from Wednesday 14 October: André-Frank Anguissa (myofascial injury to the right adductor, out since the Florence draw), Mathías Olivera (strain to the right obturator externus) and Alisson Santos, sidelined since 10 September.

Asked whether he has a fixed starting eleven in mind, Allegri replied: "I don't like routine things." It is not just a line for the cameras — he has already brought back Rafa Marín and Lang, handed Badiashile a starting shirt, and could start Giovane behind Højlund at the Ceramica on Tuesday 13 October.

The backdrop is a summer window that closed with a net spend of around -€47.5m and no real midfield reinforcement, with the McTominay question still unresolved. Allegri is widening his options piece by piece while waiting on Buongiorno, the furthest off a return, and on Vergara and Favasuli, who are targeting the Torino game on 21 November.