Badiashile, Lang and Lucca still haven't repaid Napoli's faith

The league is paused for the international break, but the first five matchdays tell the story of a transfer window that has not yet paid off. Three of the deals carrying Giovanni Manna's signature remain open bets and, for now, losing ones: Badiashile, Lang and Lucca.

Noa Lang has featured four times in the league, twice as a starter, for 184 minutes without a goal. His contribution has been so marginal that the club have reportedly already set a price to let him leave in January: €20m.

Lorenzo Lucca is no better off: two goals in Napoli colours since his arrival from Udinese, none of them this season. The club have sent him a warning through his agent, Beppe Riso, while Torino are waiting in the wings for a loan move in January.

Against that backdrop, Allegri has not given up on relaunching the players who have yet to convince. He trusts Marianucci in particular: the centre-back, whose contract renewal has already been agreed by the club, will return to the rotation once he recovers from injury.

The context does not help. Napoli are ninth with 7 points after 5 games (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats) — their worst start in ten years, according to Opta — after a summer window that closed with a net spend of around €47.5m. Three bets still to be won, in a start that leaves little room to wait much longer. Napoli are back in action on Saturday 10 October against Frosinone at the Maradona.