Napoli: Buongiorno eyes starting spot v Fiorentina for UCL place | OneFootball

After a complicated few months, Alessandro Buongiorno is ready to return to the heart of Napoli’s defense. The Azzurri defender, hampered by a series of injuries that limited his playing time last season, now sees the chance to reclaim a starting spot as early as the next league match against Fiorentina. For Antonio Conte, he could prove to be a key asset in a match that promises to be decisive for measuring Napoli’s ambitions.

Buongiorno, confidence for Florence: the center-back ready for a comeback

In the first two matchdays, Buongiorno was not a main player: absent for the season opener and used only in the second half against Cagliari, when he replaced the booked Juan Jesus. But his entrance did not go unnoticed: a visionary assist for Anguissa in the 95th minute, reminding everyone how valuable his game-reading skills and ability to build play can be. The defender, born in ’99, wants to finally put a troubled season behind him. Last season, he made a total of 23 appearances, which were interrupted by a lumbar fracture just before Christmas 2024 and further muscle problems that slowed him down at the most crucial moment of the title race.

Now, however, Buongiorno appears to be in growing form. There is an air of optimism at Castel Volturno, and Conte seems inclined to give him a starting spot from the first minute in the away match at the Franchi. It’s an important test, which could mark his true comeback in the Azzurri shirt. Napoli needs to regain certainty in defense, especially given Rrahmani’s injury, and Buongiorno’s presence—with his mix of physicality and composure—could prove to be a decisive weapon.

Andrea Alati

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