As Lorenzo De Silvestri scored an 83rd minute equaliser for Torino versus Napoli this weekend, Maurizio Sarri’s side saw their Scudetto hopes finally die a death. Now six points behind Juventus with just two matches to play, a superior goal difference for the Bianconeri makes it all-but impossible for the Partenopei to achieve their dream of a first title win since the 1989/90 campaign.
This team can be incredibly proud of its efforts this season, despite ultimately falling short in their aims. Napoli will qualify for the Champions League for the third consecutive season for the first time in their history, Sarri having secured a new club record points total in each and every campaign since joining from Empoli in 2015/16.
However, after the squad made a pact last summer to stay together for one more season in order to win the Scudetto, the Partenopei now face an uncertain future as those players will now surely bow to the incessant interest in them from other teams. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has already made his farewell to team-mates ahead of a summer move to Milan, but Napoli should be most concerned about the potential loss of their Coach.
After conceding defeat in the title race, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis made a public attack on Sarri, revealing his belief that the boss did not rotate his squad enough, causing the side to fall at the final hurdle. “It’s inevitable, unless of course, you use all the players that you have in the squad,” blasted the president to the Il Mattino newspaper. “See, we could’ve had a breather at certain moments of the season, to better prepare the sprint finish. But if we always use the same players…”
Of course, these statements caused a surge in rumours that the likes of Chelsea were ready to pay the €8 million release clause in Sarri’s contract, and if the Napoli pair don’t reconcile soon it would seem that the position of the Coach would become untenable. This would make the exit of several top players seem more likely, with a whole host of clubs lining up to buy several members of the talented squad.
Midfielder Jorginho wept after that aforementioned draw with Torino, and it looks like Napoli face a battle to hold on to their midfield maestro this summer. The player’s agent admitted that four or five Premier League sides had already shown interest in the player with Manchester City said to be in pole position.
Three out of four of the Napoli backline have also been subject to transfer speculation, Faouzi Ghoulam reportedly targeted by Manchester United and fellow full-back Elseid Hysaj said to be wanted by a trio of Premier League clubs including Liverpool. Centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is a long-term target of Chelsea and – while the Partenopei may not be ready to sell – it will be difficult to convince players to remain at a club that no longer have the potential to secure a title.
The fear is that Napoli will become victims of their own success and will plummet down the league if they lose both their Coach and a large chunk of their squad. But is it the end of the cycle?
“If the era is over, that’s down to the club,” said Sarri to Sky Italia in response to comments made by De Laurentiis. “If the club cannot keep hold of six or seven of these players, then clearly an era is over.”
It remains to be seen whether Napoli can keep hold of their most prized assets, but should they fail to do so then losing out in the title race will become the least of the fans’ worries.
