Former Napoli director makes Serie A title prediction | OneFootball

Former Napoli director Pierpaolo Marino feels the Partenopei are favourites to win the Serie A title: ‘Antonio Conte is an added value.’

Former Napoli director makes Serie A prediction

Napoli and Inter are fighting for the 2024-25 Scudetto, with the Nerazzurri currently occupying the top spot, three points clear of Antonio Conte’s men.

At the start of the season, bookmakers on crypto sports saw defending champions Inter as the favourites to win a second consecutive domestic title, while Napoli, alongside Juventus, Milan, and Atalanta, were among the closest contenders.

Napoli hired Antonio Conte after a disappointing title defence in 2023-24, and the Italian tactician has quickly turned things around at the Stadio Maradona.

“I expected this kind of path,” ex-Napoli and Udinese director Marino told Il Mattino.

UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 23: Pierpaolo Marino of Udinese Calcio during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Torino FC at Dacia Arena on October 23, 2022 in Udine, . (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“Conte is an added value. His winning mentality has brought the team extra gear and more solidity. As for [Napoli President Aurelio] De Laurentiis, there’s little to add. He’s a brilliant entrepreneur.”

Marino is famously known as the man who brought Diego Armando Maradona to Napoli in 1984

Conte has signed a contract until June 2027, and even if the Partenopei won just two of the last nine league games, they remain close to Inter, who have a tougher fixture list and are still involved in the Coppa Italia and Champions League.

Napoli have collected 65 points in 31 Serie A games last season, winning 19 drawing eight and losing just four times.

Conte’s men have scored 48 goals and conceded 25, making them the league’s least-beaten defence.

Marino argued that Napoli had a 51% chance of winning the Scudetto this season and that more Campania-based teams would soon join the Partenopei in Italy’s top flight.

“I think Avellino and Salernitana [in Serie B] have ownership capable of reaching the Serie A like Napoli,” he said.

“With a solid project and a solid fan base in Campania, it’s entirely possible to see three or four Campania-based teams in Serie A in the future.”

Avellino will likely be promoted to the second division from Serie C this season, while Juve Stabia are fighting for a spot in the Serie B playoffs.

At the same time, however, Salernitana are far from getting a Serie A promotion and are fighting to avoid relegation to Serie C.

“Honestly, I can’t understand what’s happening, ” Marino continued.

“I’m sorry because the passion of these fans is unmatched. Relegation from Serie A to Serie B could be such a traumatic event that recovering becomes difficult, especially if you don’t split from players who already failed in the previous campaign. It’s a shame because Salerno and Avellino deserve Serie A football.”