Allegri has eight defenders competing for three shirts at the back

In three-at-the-back drills at Castel Volturno ahead of Frosinone, the head coach has more candidates than places in every area of defence. The system is still unconfirmed — the squad depth is not.

by Gennaro SanninoFriday 2 October, 08:17 CET· 3 hours ago

Difesa a tre, Allegri passa dall'emergenza alla scelta: otto nomi per tre maglie — Grafica Arena Napoli

Three weeks ago, Massimiliano Allegri was counting his defenders one by one, trying to reach eleven fit players. On Friday 2 October, running three-at-the-back drills at Castel Volturno ahead of Frosinone, he has the opposite problem: three places, eight names.

The queue on the right is long. There is Beukema, already used there by Antonio Conte and, by last season's numbers, the defence's best progressor of play. There is Di Lorenzo, currently on international duty, a natural fit for that flank through his running and his timing in attack. There is Marianucci, out since August with the injury picked up against Celta Vigo and the first of the three to be available again.

On the same flank, the transfer market is not standing still: Dodò's name is back in fashion, even if the file with Fiorentina has stalled.

At centre-back there is no debate. Rrahmani is back from international duty with Kosovo, used the break to rest, and has just extended his contract to 2029. If needed, Badiashile can also fill that slot.

On the left, in training, Rafa Marín has become Rrahmani's most frequent partner out of necessity this season. But that shirt belongs to Buongiorno, and it will be his again once he is fit — though his return is not expected before early 2027.

In the meantime there is Badiashile, waiting to get back onto the pitch after the final ten minutes he played away to Inter in Milan. He can play either as the left-sided centre-back or in the middle, and Napoli pay him well — just under McTominay's level, the same as Lobotka's. In the test against Avellino, he is one of Allegri's special watches.

The last option is Olivera, also currently on international duty, with Uruguay. He will return just before the Frosinone game.

A good problem

It is a reversal being debated in a positive light: after weeks of making a virtue of necessity, Allegri now has real choice in every area of defence. But real choice brings an uncomfortable question — who misses out, and why — one that the back three seen in training so far has not yet answered. By the accounts of those watching the sessions, it remains a theoretical interpretation, a starting point the pitch can change from game to game.

With October's fixture list getting congested, that rotation will not be a tactical indulgence but a necessity. The first answer comes on Saturday 10 October, at the Maradona, against Frosinone.