Napoli’s Neres shines at 28, dreams of Ancelotti’s Brazil | OneFootball

At 28 years old, David Neres has finally completed his transformation. No longer just an intermittent talent or a luxury alternative, but the absolute protagonist of the new Napoli led by Antonio Conte.

Napoli, Neres’ Rebirth: At 28, the Offensive Leader Explodes, Dreaming of Ancelotti’s Brazil

The Brazilian winger is now the poster boy for the Azzurri, the symbol of the most effective and concrete version of the reigning Italian champions, and his name is once again knocking loudly on the door of the Seleção led by Carlo Ancelotti.

The new Napoli runs through Neres

In Cremona, where the focus is at its highest ahead of upcoming fixtures, the most anticipated face is precisely that of Neres. Decisive in the Super Cup and the driving force behind the “second life” of the Scudetto-winning Napoli, the Brazilian has made more of an impact than anyone else, even more than Hojlund, who has impressed with his versatility and adaptability.

The Napoli that works today revolves around his creativity, his unpredictability, and a tactical maturity never before seen in an Azzurri shirt.

Corriere dello Sport: “Never so dominant in Naples”

Corriere dello Sport, with Fabio Mandarini, captures Neres’ magical moment with words that tell of a true consecration:

“David Neres. He is the face of the moment. The arrow, the magician, the imagination. Never this good since he’s been at Napoli, but so dominant for a while now. He’s left his physical problems behind and found continuity and tactical dimension to unleash his enormous talent.”

The numbers speak for themselves: three goals in Riyadh, one in the semifinals and a brace in the final, performances enriched by pure class and an aggression born from Conte’s work. After a long absence that kept him away from the national team since October 2023, Neres has once again become a credible profile for Brazil:

“Today, everyone recognizes he has new chances to return to the national team. In Ancelotti’s Seleção.”

Corriere della Sera: Conte has brought him closer to goal

Corriere della Sera also highlights Antonio Conte’s decisive role in the metamorphosis of the Paulista winger. Monica Scozzafava points out how the coach has redrawn his area of action:

“Neres, once Politano’s alter ego, has become an indispensable man in Conte’s lineup, who has placed him closer to goal.”

That choice has led to a leap in quality: crucial goals against Atalanta and Roma, decisive assists against Juventus, and a consistency in scoring never before shown at Napoli. The brace in the final against Bologna marks a turning point, as does the unprecedented fact of scoring in two consecutive matches after a year and a half in an Azzurri shirt.

“Neres is the poster boy of the year that is about to end: unstoppable, uncontainable, almost possessed in the battle of Riyadh.”

A long-awaited maturity, finally achieved

The David Neres of 2025 is a different player: more concrete, more physically resilient, more central to the technical project. Conte has given him responsibility, brought him closer to goal, and finally freed him from the limits that had held back his breakthrough.

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