Napoli director of sport Giovanni Manna confirms they’re ‘wanting round’ for a Kevin De Bruyne substitute, however the switch technique had been to ‘enhance the reserves.’
It kicks off on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.45 GMT.
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NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli injured throughout the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
There stays a prolonged harm record for this match, together with Leonardo Spinazzola, Billy Gilmour, Alex Meret and naturally De Bruyne, the Belgian out for 3 to 4 months following surgical procedure for a thigh muscle tear.
Contemplating the size of the absence, are Napoli getting ready to signal a substitute in January?
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“Kevin’s harm is extraordinarily damaging for us, as a result of there are few gamers with that type of high quality, his begin had been good, and he may solely have improved. We’re wanting round, as is pure and truthful, and on the proper second we might be prepared,”
NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his aspect first objective throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Part MD2 match between SSC Napoli and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 01, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
Napoli had exact technique this summer time
A lot has been stated in regards to the battle to get new gamers settling into the Scudetto winners, however this night summer time signings Rasmus Hojlund, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Miguel Gutierrez and Eljif Elmas are all beginning.
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“We at all times stated it required some persistence to allow them to settle in, as it’s not straightforward to introduce 9 new faces to a consolidated group, particularly from different leagues. Some have made the method quicker than others, we’re assured the others will be capable of earn their spot too quickly sufficient.
“The work of the coach is key and if we’re getting outcomes now, it’s due to the coach and his workers. We’re conscious that we’re coming off a unfavorable Champions League end result. Sadly, gamers aren’t machines, it is going to take time and never everybody reacts the identical means.
“If outcomes go effectively, it turns into simpler to settle into the brand new context.”
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Miguel Gutierrez of SSC Napoli in motion throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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that Gutierrez and Elmas had been “the nice novelties” from the switch market, as others have made much less of an influence.
“I at all times stated because the coach stated we had 12-13 first selection gamers final season for a really robust crew, which gained the Scudetto and certified for the Champions League,” insisted Manna.
“What we wanted was to enhance the reserves, as a result of it’s actually not straightforward to enhance upon Lobotka, McTominay, Anguissa, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Di Lorenzo, Olivera, Lukaku, Politano, Neres or till January Kvaratskhelia.
“We tried to do our greatest, I feel we achieved that in some roles, however with others it is going to take some time. What we wanted this summer time was to bolster the bench. Our switch technique for the following session might be very completely different.”