Napoli 2025/26 Guide: Kevin De Bruyne Arrival, Starting XI and Predicted Finish | OneFootball

Napoli pulled off a miraculous 2024/25 season to win their second Serie A title in three years against the odds.

Antonio Conte once again proved to be the best manager in Italian football as he returned to haunt his former club Inter Milan.

Conte’s side dethroned the Nerazzurri in one of the most dramatic Scudetto races in recent memory, finishing only one point clear of the San Siro club.

Few people could have expected the Partenopei to win the title in the 56-year-old’s first year at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, especially after a dreadful 2023/24 season.

However, the former Chelsea boss quickly steadied the ship and reshaped the squad, turning Napoli into a formidable force after a catastrophic year.

After heavily reinforcing their squad during the summer transfer window, Conte’s charges enter the new season as the leading title candidates perhaps for the first time this century.

Here is our Napoli season preview for 2025/26.

Napoli Fixtures

Napoli’s title-defending campaign gets underway at the Mapei Stadium against newcomers Sassuolo, while their first home game of the season pits them against Cagliari in round two.

September could provide an early insight into Napoli’s Scudetto credentials, with tasty-looking away games against Fiorentina and AC Milan set to test the champions’ mettle.

Another mouth-watering contest arrives towards the end of October, when they entertain Inter in Naples. However, November may be decisive in shaping the trajectory of Partenopei’s season.

Kicking off with a home clash against last season’s surprise package, Como, Conte’s men take on Coppa Italia winners Bologna (A), Atalanta (H), and Roma (A) in what could be a season-defining month.

The second edition of the famous Derby del Sole in 2025/26 takes place at the Maradona Stadium in mid-February.

By then, Napoli will have already met Inter and Juventus twice, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash that could prove crucial in the title race.

Other noteworthy fixtures include an away match to newly-promoted Cremonese to close out 2025, and a trip to Rome to face Lazio at the start of the new calendar year.

Napoli’s season ends at home to Udinese.

Manager

Widely regarded as one of the best managers in the world, Conte maintains a reputation as a ‘serial winner.’ However, his fiery temperament can make him a challenging figure to manage at times.

Despite winning titles at virtually every previous job, the Italian tactician has become notorious for eventually falling out with nearly every club he has managed.

However, his intense touchline demeanour and relentless drive often inspire players to exceed their limits, which was the case in Naples last season.

After winning over the Partenopei faithful with his passion and tactical acumen, Conte has taken expectations to another level, leaving little room for error this season.

With Napoli returning to the Champions League after a year-long absence, the Italian coach faces the dual challenge of defending the Serie A title while navigating Europe’s elite competition.

Meanwhile, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has reinforced his support by backing Conte during the transfer window.

Transfers

The acquisition of Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne headlines the list of arrivals. He has joined the club as a free agent after his contract at the Etihad Stadium expired.

Serbian goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has signed on loan from Torino, while Lorenzo Lucca comes from Udinese on a similar deal, though his contract includes a mandatory buyout clause.

Napoli have strengthened their defence with the signing of Sam Buekema from Bologna and Luca Marianucci from Empoli, with Noa Lang arriving from PSV Eindhoven to provide competition on the wings.

De Laurentiis financed most of those acquisitions through the sale of Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray, with the Turkish side paying €75 million for the Nigerian striker.

Osimhen has not been the only high-profile offensive departure as diminutive forward Giacomo Raspadori signed a multi-year contract with Atletico Madrid.

Brazilian defender Natan signed a permanent deal with Real Betis, while Gianluca Gaetano switched to Cagliari, where he will reunite with Elia Caprile.

Other notable departures include loan agreements for Jesper Lindstrom, Jens Cajuste, Cyril Ngonge and Giovanni Simeone, who played marginal roles at the Maradona Stadium last season.

Starting XI

Conte has perfected a 3-5-2 system during his trophy-laden managerial career, yet he has adapted his approach and deviated from this trademark formation at Napoli.

The Partenopei lined up in a 4-3-3 for most of last season and will likely continue with this set-up in 2025/26.

Milinkovic-Savic could dislodge Alex Meret from the starting XI following several outstanding seasons at Torino.

Beukema could be the only new face in defence, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Leonardo Spinazzola expected to keep their spots on the flanks.

The Dutch centre-back will most likely partner up with Alessandro Buongiorno at the expense of Amir Rrahmani.

With the addition of De Bruyne, Napoli’s midfield should gain a creative spark to complement the energy of Scott McTominay and the composure of Stanislav Lobotka.

With Ngonge and Raspadori gone, Matteo Politano and Lang will likely operate on the wings, with Romelu Lukaku expected to retain his place in attack.

(4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Lobotka, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Lang, Lukaku.

Star Player

What McTominay did last season was nothing short of exceptional.

Napoli needed a new hero after losing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and the former Manchester United star answered the call in a big way.

From a bench-warming role at Old Trafford to a new fan favourite at the Maradona Stadium, McTominay has transformed into an elite midfielder in one year.

In his maiden season in Serie A, the Scottish ace racked up 12 goals and six assists on his way to winning the MVP award.

Beyond his goal contributions, McTominay’s passion and work ethic have made him a central figure in Naples.

It will be exciting to see if he can replicate last season’s stellar performances in 2025/26, especially now that De Bruyne is in town.

Prediction

Napoli are in uncharted territory.

They’ve been superb in defying the odds over the year, but now must cope with the pressure of being the favourites.

More importantly, Conte must navigate the pitfalls of the infamous ‘second-season’ syndrome.

With Champions League football back at the Maradona Stadium, that could be easier said than done.

However, this squad looks head and shoulders above everyone else in Serie A, and we expect them to show that on the pitch.

Predicted finish: 1st.

How to watch Serie A live this season

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