Ahead of the start of the Serie A 2022/23 season, we preview Napoli after a strong campaign last term saw Luciano Spalletti and his side finish in third and go through their pre-season form, transfers in and out, predicted line-up, one to watch and their season target. So, let’s take a look at Napoli’s 2022/23 season preview and predictions.
A Look Back at the 2021/22 Season
Napoli will make their return to Champions League football this season after securing a third place finish last term under boss Luciano Spalletti. The Partenopei finished in seventh and fifth place respectively in the two years under Gennaro Gattuso. The club began last season by going 12 games undefeated but they eventually fell to third place as Milan and Inter finished on top of the pile. However, they did finish the season strongly, winning eight of their last 12 matches of the season.
Victor Osimhen was Napoli’s Serie A top goalscorer last season with 14 goals but attacking output was largely spread with both Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens scoring 11 goals a piece. Osimhen will have to make a big leap this season as Napoli deal with the loss of both Insigne and Mertens for the upcoming campaign. The departures of Insigne, Mertens and Koulibaly have left the Napoli fans in disbelief, with little optimism ahead of the new season. New signings will have to settle quickly if Napoli are to qualify for the Champions League once again this term.
Pre-season form:
Espanyol (N) D 0-0
Girona (N) W 3-1 (Goals; Petagna, Kvaratskhelia)
Mallorca (N) D 1-1 (Goals; Osimhen)
Adana Demirspor (N) D 2-2 (Goals; Lozano x2)
Perugia (N) W 4-1 (Goals; Kvaratskhelia, Anguissa, Politano, Petagna)
Transfers In:
Kim Min-Jae (centre-back) Fenerbahce; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (winger) Dinamo Batumi; Mathias Olivera (left-back) Getafe; Leo Ostigard (centre-back) Brighton; Franck-André Zambo Anguissa (mid) Fulham; Gianluca Gaetano (att mid) Cremonese – end of loan; Alessio Zerbin (winger) Frosinone – end of loan; Nosa Edward Obaretin (centre-back) Milan.
Transfers Out:
Kalidou Koulibaly (centre-back) Chelsea; Lorenzo Insigne (winger) Toronto FC – free transfer; Dries Mertens (forward) Galatasaray – free transfer; David Ospina (gk) Al-Nassr FC – free transfer; Faouzi Ghoulam (left-back) – free transfer; Kevin Malcuit (right-back) – free transfer; Axel Tuanzebe (centre-back) Manchester United – end of loan; Arkadiusz Milik (forward) Olympique Marseille; Sebastiano Luperto (centre-back) Empoli – on loan; Gennaro Tutino (forward) Parma; Micheal Folorunsho (att mid) Bari – on loan.
Back At It @sscnapoli pic.twitter.com/T2GkV1svv2
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) August 9, 2022
Summary of Transfers
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has joined Napoli from Dinamo Batumi this summer and becomes just the third Georgian to play in Serie A. The winger will add flair and creativity, attempting to nullify the loss suffered from the departure of captain Lorenzo Insigne. The 21-year-old demonstrated great dribbling and technical skills during his time with Rubin Kazan in the Russian Premier League and could be a joy to watch for the Partenopei this season, already being heralded as Kvaradona in Naples.
Certainly, Napoli will also feel the loss of 35-year-old veteran Dries Mertens who has joined Galatasaray on a free transfer this summer. The Belgian had served nine years in Naples, leaving as the club’s record top goalscorer, also making the fifth-highest appearances. He will be sorely missed. Giacomo Raspadori has been rumoured to arrive at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer after Napoli failed to secure the signing of Paulo Dybala who joined Roma last month.
Another big loss comes in the form of Kalidou Koulibaly who has left the club to join Chelsea after eight years of service. The Senegalese international will leave a hole at the heart of the defense after making 317 appearances for Napoli. His replacement comes in the form of Kim Min-jae who has arrived in Naples from Fenerbahce after the club activated his €20 million release clause. Spalletti identified the South Korean as the man he wanted to replace Koulibaly and he believes he is a Champions League quality player.
First Five 2022/23 Serie A Fixtures:
Verona (A)
Monza (H)
Fiorentina (A)
Lecce (H)
Lazio (A)
Predicted line-up:
(4-2-3-1) Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-jae, Amir Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Fabian Ruiz, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Piotr Zielinski, Hirving Lozano; Victor Osimhen.
The signing of defenders Mathias Olivera and Leo Ostigard join Kim Min-jae as part of a potential new look defense for Spalletti and Napoli. Faouzi Ghoulam and Kevin Malcuit also departed the club alongside Koulibaly. Giovanni Di Lorenzo has been elected the new captain after the departure of Insigne and he will likely be first choice at right-back. Olivera will battle it out with Mario Rui on the opposite flank, whilst Kim Min-jae and Amir Rrahmani will likely be the primary starters at centre-back. Juan Jesus and Ostigard offer depth options.
Fabian Ruiz and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are the likely pair to start in the double pivot in midfield but Stanislav Lobotka has featured a lot during pre-season. Diego Demme provides another option and is more of a defensive help, whilst Zielinski can also be deployed in a deeper role, as well as in an advanced position. Eljif Elmas can also operate in attacking midfield.
Alessio Zerbin has returned to the Partenopei after a loan spell with Frosinone last season where he scored nine goals and assisted three in Serie B last term. The forward may fight for a depth role up top and on the wing here after making his debut for the national side in June against Hungary in the Nations League as a substitute. However, Kvaratskhelia and Hirving Lozano are the likely starters out wide. Matteo Politano and Adam Ounas are also options on the wing but the former picked a calf injury in Napoli’s pre-season friendly against Girona. Twenty-nine-year-old Politano has also been linked with a move away from Spalletti’s side this summer.
Victor Osimhen will lead the line as the Nigerian looks to build on his 18-goal season last term. The 23-year-old will need to step up and lead by example after the leadership departure from the squad this summer. Andrea Petagna is currently the only other out and out striker at the club – he had an underwhelming season last where he scored just three Serie A goals in 24 appearances for Napoli.
? Kvaratskhelia with a fine effort – saved by Lecomte with his feet!
42 | #NapoliEspanyol | 0-0 pic.twitter.com/0DN0KVp2I7
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) August 6, 2022
One to Watch:
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The Georgian winger could make an instant impact with the Partenopei following his transfer this summer as he looks to add a bit of flair to the Napoli offense. He has already scored twice during pre-season so far but will have a big task ahead of him as he looks to replace Insigne. Nonetheless, playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in the Champions League, could showcase to the rest of the footballing world his ability. At just 21-years-old, Kvaratskhelia has a bright future and is certainly one to keep an eye out for.
Season Target:
The loss of big names this summer does see Napoli in a transitional period but they do have the quality to finish inside the top four once again this term. Perhaps a title charge is a little too far for the Partenopei this season but they will still be aiming to qualify for the Champions League.