Napoli, Conte trials big four with McTominay wide, De Bruyne near Lukaku | OneFootball

The second half of the friendly against Girona offered an intriguing preview of what could be the “Napoli of the future” according to Antonio Conte.

Napoli, Conte experiments with the Napoli of the future: big four together, McTominay wide and De Bruyne close to Lukaku

A team capable of abandoning the traditional 4-3-3 to switch to a more hybrid solution, simultaneously fielding four high-profile midfielders with an unprecedented distribution of positions.

The tactical shift: four midfielders and greater central density At the 60th minute, with the score at 3-1 against the Spaniards, Conte brought on Scott McTominay in place of David Neres. A move that radically changed the offensive setup:

McTominay wide on the left, tasked with covering and making runs forward

De Bruyne closer to Romelu Lukaku, free to move between the lines

Politano wide on the right to provide width and depth

The 4-3-3 temporarily dissolved to make way for a more compact structure in the middle of the pitch, offering greater balance and the ability to control the central area. When Lang replaced De Bruyne, McTominay returned to playing as an attacking midfielder, a role he interprets naturally.

Anguissa indispensable The match also confirmed a key point: Frank Anguissa is the linchpin of the midfield. He was the only midfielder to remain on the pitch for all 90 minutes, a sign that in Conte’s hierarchy, the Cameroonian is an irreplaceable element. His physicality and ability to cover large areas of the pitch are fundamental to the team’s overall balance.

The transfer issue: Musah or Miretti to complete the midfield Despite a strong start to the season, Conte’s Napoli still needs to find the right defensive balance: in every friendly played so far, the team has conceded at least one goal. For this reason, the coach has requested an additional reinforcement in midfield, a player capable of supporting or replacing Anguissa.

Two names top the list:

Fabio Miretti (Juventus), negotiations currently stalled

Yunus Musah (Milan), for whom Napoli has made an official offer of 22 million euros plus bonuses

Musah, a versatile and physical midfielder, is considered by Conte to be the ideal profile to guarantee aggression and coverage. The American, also followed by Nottingham Forest (ready to offer 30 million), would prefer to stay in Serie A.

Looking ahead: balance and tactical alternatives The experiments with the “big four” on the pitch point in a clear direction: Conte wants a Napoli capable of changing formation on the fly, alternating between more offensive solutions and compact setups against top opponents. The arrival of a midfielder like Musah would provide even greater flexibility, allowing the team to better manage the period when Anguissa will be away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.