Allegri anticipates a competitive Serie A season with eight contenders
Massimiliano Allegri is bracing for what he calls a Serie A season unlike many others – a title race he believes could stretch to eight serious contenders.
Inter, the reigning champions, remain his reference point. Napoli’s head coach did not try to disguise that. But he pushed back firmly against the idea of a two-team fight.
“Inter are the favourites because they hold the trophy,” he told Sportmediaset, “but there will be at least eight teams to keep an eye on. As well as the Nerazzurri and ourselves, also Milan, Juventus, Roma, Fiorentina, Como and Atalanta.”
Eight names. One Scudetto. Allegri sees a traffic jam forming at the top.
Centenary pressure and a crowded calendar
This is no ordinary season for Napoli. The club’s centenary hangs over everything, adding weight to every result and every misstep. Allegri knows it, and he knows what the supporters expect.
“It’ll be a beautiful and demanding year,” he said, laying out the scale of the task. Napoli must hold their own in Serie A, survive a reshaped Champions League format and stay alive in the Coppa Italia. No margin for drift.
In Europe, the challenge is clear. “In the Champions League, we need to get through the single group stage and then reach the playoffs or the round of 16 as best we can.” No talk of experiments, no soft targets. Progress, or it will feel like a failure.
Buongiorno blow tests Napoli’s depth
The optimism around Napoli’s ambitions is tempered by a major setback at the back. Alessandro Buongiorno, signed to be a pillar of the defence, is out long term. For a coach who builds from structure and balance, it is a brutal early twist.
“It’s a shame about Buongiorno, who will be out until January,” Allegri admitted. The solution will have to come from within. “In any case I have Marin and Rrahmani, Beukema is behind but he’ll recover his best form, and if needed I also have Olivera. I’m confident.”
The message is deliberate. No panic, no excuses. Napoli will lean on Marin and Amir Rrahmani, wait for Sam Beukema to rediscover rhythm, and use Mathías Olivera as another option if required. The system must hold, even without its intended cornerstone.
Hojlund under the spotlight
At the other end of the pitch, the focus sharpens on one man. Rasmus Hojlund carries the responsibility of leading Napoli’s attack in a season loaded with expectation and pressure.
Allegri has not hidden his admiration for the Dane in the past, even likening aspects of his game to Harry Kane. That kind of comparison can inflate hype quickly, but the coach cut through that and went straight to the numbers that matter.
“He’s a very physical striker, he puts in the effort and is eager,” Allegri said. The praise stopped there. “But he needs to improve his goal-scoring record this season. He can do so given that he has all the potential.”
The bar is set. Effort is no longer enough. In a league Allegri believes could see eight teams pushing for the title, Napoli’s hopes may hinge on whether Hojlund turns potential into goals, and whether this centenary year becomes a celebration of history or a test of patience.
