Injuries have hit 19 Napoli players this season, almost 80%

Injuries have hit 19 Napoli players this season, almost 80% of the squad

Neres and Favasuli are due back for Torino on Saturday 21 November. A number this big cannot be blamed on bad luck. It raises questions about the fitness work and about a squad that was built too thin.

by Gennaro SanninoWednesday 11 November, 22:02 CET· 14 hours ago

Diciannove azzurri con problemi fisici da inizio stagione, quasi l'80% della rosa: per il Torino rientrano Neres e Favasuli — Grafica Arena Napoli

Nineteen. That is how many Napoli players have had physical problems since the start of the season, almost 80% of Allegri's squad. This is not one bad week. The figure covers the whole season.

It comes with Napoli tenth on 15 points after 11 rounds. That equals the lowest return of the De Laurentiis era, first reached in 2007/08. The side has also gone three games without a win.

Who is out, and for how long

Di Lorenzo, with a tear in the adductor longus of his left thigh, and Lobotka, with a left ankle problem, are expected back in mid-December. Buongiorno has had surgery on his meniscus and will return in January 2027. Alisson Santos will miss all of November.

Badiashile and Spinazzola should be back in the week between Manchester City and Sassuolo. Olivera is pencilled in for 29 November at the Mapei Stadium. For Torino at the Maradona on Saturday 21 November, kick-off 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET), the schedule has Neres and Favasuli returning.

The cost on the pitch

The effects are already showing. Against Lazio, the league leaders, Allegri picked Meret; Rrahmani, Marín, Beukema, with Vergara as a wing-back. That left only three recognised defenders on the pitch.

In the game before that, in Porto, Napoli's first substitution came in the 78th minute, with the side already 2-1 down. All three of Porto's second-half goals went through players who had come off the bench. Then Rafa Marín was sent off in the 89th minute, and the night ended 4-1.

Do not call it bad luck

Nineteen injuries cannot be put down to bad luck, and we will not do so. A number like this raises two questions, and each has someone who must answer it.

The first is about the physical work: training loads, preparation, managing minutes. That is on the coaching staff.

The second is about the squad. The summer brought two signings, Badiashile and Favasuli, and both are now on the list of players returning from injury. The striker Allegri asked for never arrived. A squad built this thin cannot cope with an injury list this long, and that is on whoever built it.

A rules problem too

The 25-man Serie A squad list is full, in both the over-22 places and the quota for Italian homegrown players. To register Buongiorno again in January, a place must be freed first. Any reinforcements promised by De Laurentiis will have to fit within that.

The transfer window only reopens on 2 January. Until then the club can sign free agents only.

That means this squad, with these returns, will face Torino, Manchester City and Sassuolo, three games between 21 and 29 November. Napoli are 9 points behind Milan in fourth, the target the club has set. Torino will also be the first home game since the supporters' protest on 8 November.

Ten days to get two players back, and to work out why 19 broke down.