Serie A Preview: Napoli are clear title favourites despite Lukaku issue | OneFootball

Napoli coach Antonio Conte has stressed his team are not the finished article, yet the Partenopei enter the new season as clear title favourites.

It’s not the first time the former Juventus, Inter, and Italy coach has tried to dampen expectations by talking down the chances of his side’s potential success.

However, everything points towards the Neapolitan club making history by clinching a second successive Scudetto this season.

Napoli clear Serie A title favourites in 202-26

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, kisses the Serie A TIM Scudetto title trophy after his team’s victory in the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The biggest signing of a productive summer might have been persuading Conte to remain as coach when it was widely reported that he would return to the Old Lady.

The 56-year-old demanded a specific set of new summer additions, and owner Aurelio De Laurentiis complied. No drama, no screaming matches, just business – so much for the theory that it would be impossible for the pair to get along.

There’s no such thing as the perfect mercato, but Napoli have come close to it.

Deals were completed relatively early compared to previous seasons and not on complete unknowns or squad members that will fill out the substitutes’ bench.

Napoli’s summer signings for 2025-26

Kevin De Bruyne in pre-season training with Napoli.

Napoli bolstered every area of their squad without losing any irreplaceable regulars.

Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne can be considered a veteran at the age of 34, but remains one of the best on the planet in his position. Bringing in such a star name from English Premier League giants Manchester City was a statement of intent in itself. The Belgian’s wondrous passing ability and capacity to link play will undoubtedly add another attacking layer to Conte’s team.

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has been among the finest goalkeepers in Serie A over the last four seasons at Torino and will provide invaluable competition for Alex Meret. The Serbian shot-stopper didn’t leave the Granata to be a backup and will expect to receive significant game time.

Sam Beukema’s stock has risen significantly after two impressive seasons at Bologna and is a legitimate first-team starter in defence. The Dutchman had attracted plenty of interest from Italy and England, but prioritised a move to Campania above all others.

Although it took longer than anticipated, the capture of Miguel Gutierrez from Girona also provided Conte with a ready-made left-back. Widely regarded as one of the best in his position in La Liga, the 24-year-old will compete with Mathias Olivera for a first-team place.

On the same flank, Noa Lang brings Champions League experience from his two-year tenure at PSV Eindhoven. Rapid, direct, and unafraid to take on defenders, the Dutch international joins Napoli at a critical time in his career and will aim to make an immediate impact.

Italian international centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca arrived after a breakout season at Udinese in which he netted 12 Serie A goals. The 6ft 7in target man’s aerial ability is unquestioned, but he shouldn’t be labelled as a one-dimensional player.

Every addition made the Partenopei substantially stronger than last term, a campaign in which they overperformed to win the title on the final day.

Serious Lukaku injury ruined Napoli’s pre-season

CASTEL DI SANGRO, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli lies on the pitch after being injured during the pre-season friendly match between Napoli and Olympiacos at Stadio Teofilo Patini on August 14, 2025 in Castel di Sangro, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

More fresh faces are predicted before the transfer window closes on September 1, especially after leading scorer Romelu Lukaku sustained a serious thigh injury in the pre-season victory over Greek side Olympiacos.

Even without the influential Belgian, who could be out of action for up to four months, there should be sufficient cover if a new centre-forward arrives, although Napoli might regret selling the flexible Giacomo Raspadori to Atletico Madrid.

Forwards Giovanni Simeone and Cyril Ngonge (both Torino) were the only other noteworthy departures as the Partenopei retained all the mainstays of the fourth Scudetto triumph.

Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, midfield anchor Stanislav Lobotka, all-rounder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (who opted to stay on despite a whirlwind of rumours to the contrary) and the league’s most valuable player Scott McTominay will all be in place when the new campaign begins away to Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium on Saturday.

Despite Conte’s reservations, particularly in a season containing both Serie A and Champions League fixtures, the Partenopei approach the 2025-2026 term in markedly better shape than their championship rivals.

Rewind a couple of years and Napoli made one of the worst title defences in recent history after a dismal summer of lacklustre signings – Natan, Jens Cajuste and Jesper Lindstrom (who all left the club during the off-season) among them.

They went through three coaches and placed a lowly 10th in the 2023-2024 campaign, only for Conte to take over and lead them to the top of Serie A again.

There’s next to no chance the intensely demanding tactician will allow the newly constructed Napoli squad to rest on their laurels even if he genuinely believes the title favourites are a work in progress.

@SKasiewicz