Massimiliano Allegri says Kevin De Bruyne is capable of playing in any position for Napoli, but the club’s proposed loan signing Benoit Badiashile has yet to be officially registered and has not trained with the team.
Napoli begin their 2026-27 Serie A campaign on Saturday with a trip to Genoa, where they will face Daniele De Rossi’s side. The match will be Allegri’s first competitive fixture since taking charge of the Partenopei.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Allegri said he was looking forward to seeing how his squad performed after a month of work together.
“A new season begins; it’s an important and passionate time, and there’s always curiosity on matchday one,” Allegri said via TuttoNapoli.
“I’ve worked with the team for one month, and there’s great anticipation to understand what we’ll be able to do. I expect a tough game against a team that plays well at home, on a competitive and technical level. We’ll need a serious performance.
“The feeling I’ve had is that these players are available to work. A strong squad. I inherited a ready team, well coached by Antonio Conte,” Allegri continued.
“It’s a good advantage; they have characteristics mixed well. We can play with various systems, even during the match.”
De Bruyne, who has just begun his second season with Napoli, returned to training with the rest of the squad after the World Cup. Allegri said the Belgium international had made a strong impression despite joining the group later than his team-mates.
“He arrived later on, but he’s already in good shape,” Allegri said.
“I didn’t think he’d already be at this level after ten days. Big players can play everywhere; they know how to play there and can find the best position.”
Napoli have confirmed only one signing so far, with Costantino Favasuli arriving from Catanzaro. Chelsea defender Badiashile underwent medical tests on Thursday, but his initial loan move has not yet been completed.
“The squad is excellent, and the club is vigilant in the transfer market, but right now we have very good players,” Allegri said.
“Sometimes it is thought that some are weaker than those outside, but instead we have to place a lot of value on those who are already here.
“Favasuli is a young player, and he’s arrived with great enthusiasm. The other one [Badiashile] is still not registered. I’ll have a week to look at him and give a proper judgment. He was here, but didn’t train,” he added.
Allegri believes Napoli must recognise the strength already within their squad, while accepting that the Serie A title race could involve several clubs. Inter, the defending champions, will start the season as the team to beat.
“A new season starts tomorrow, and we all start from zero points. The defending champions are the team to beat: Inter. Fiorentina have had an excellent transfer window; Atalanta have made a lot of changes; Milan and Juventus have had a great window.
“Napoli have signed Favasuli and, maybe, Badiashile,” Allegri added, smiling.
“It’s a group that has been built in the last two years. There will be many surprises; the important thing is to work and get consistent results.”
Napoli finished second in the 2025-26 campaign, but Allegri rejected the idea of naming favourites before the new season has begun.
“We won’t talk about favourites, but Inter have the Scudetto on their chests, so, logically, they are favourites,” Allegri said.
“It will be a thrilling season with seven teams, eight with Inter [fighting for the title]: Napoli, Inter, Juventus, Milan, Como, Roma, Fiorentina and Atalanta. It’s all to be discovered, and you have to be good and balanced. In 15 days, the Champions League starts, and that’s another goal, another wonderful competition, and then there’s the Coppa Italia. The team must remain competitive in all competitions.”
Napoli’s attacking options include Rasmus Højlund and Lorenzo Lucca, who returned to the squad after spending six months on loan during the second half of last season. Noa Lang has also come back after his loan spell.
“The strikers are Hojlund and Lucca. Let’s not forget that Hojlund is 23 and Lucca, I think, 25, but they are both valuable. Lucca was a major investment for the club; he scored two goals in a friendly and can continue to grow,” Allegri concluded.
“Lang has different characteristics; he’s a winger. From what I’ve seen, he’s a good player; he has strong technical qualities, but we all need the ambition to improve every day in training. They’re also young, they certainly don’t have 500 games under their belt and they can improve, you have to give them confidence and you need enthusiasm.”
