Napoli spare Lucca and De Bruyne fines as Politano's remark still stings
The club wants to cool the dressing room before Lazio visit. After the 4-1 defeat in Porto, the vice-captain's 'not always us Italians' is still doing damage.
Napoli will not fine Lucca or De Bruyne. Late in the 4-1 defeat in Porto, the striker insulted the Belgian. The club has chosen not to impose formal sanctions, because it does not want a disciplinary case two days before league leaders Lazio come to town.
Another line is causing more trouble in the dressing room. After the match Politano said: "I'd like some other team-mate to come and explain things, not always us Italians." The vice-captain wore the armband in Porto because Di Lorenzo is injured. He named nobody, but the remark is being read as aimed mainly at Anguissa and Rrahmani, two senior players who almost never face the cameras.
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In the hours that followed, Politano said he had not meant to attack anyone and confirmed his support for Allegri. That changes little. Højlund has disputed the coach's reading of the game ("I don't agree"), McTominay has said he is furious, and now the squad is also split over who should front up after a defeat.
Not fining the pair avoids creating martyrs, but it solves nothing. An insult on the pitch goes unpunished and the rift is still there. Since the evening of Friday 6 November the squad has been confined to a pre-match retreat at Pozzuoli. Lazio arrive at the Maradona on Sunday 8 November at 12:30 CET (11:30 UK, 06:30 ET) with 28 points, double Napoli's 14. That game will show whether the retreat got the players talking or simply put a lid on the tension.
Source: Notizie Napoli Calcio
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