Massimiliano Allegri’s reign at Napoli just got off to a brutal start, with his “strong side” getting absolutely trounced 3-1 by Arezzo in their first pre-season outing. This wasn’t some quiet friendly; it was a rough introduction, and honestly, Partenopei fans have every right to be scratching their heads after that showing.
Allegri’s Strong Side Just Looked… Heavy
You’d think with a lineup featuring names like Alex Meret, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Frank Anguissa, and Rasmus Hojlund, Napoli would roll, right? Nope. Arezzo came out firing. Cerri put them ahead just 11 minutes in, then Gilli doubled the lead right before the hour mark. Matteo Politano did pull one back from the penalty spot on 60 minutes, which offered a tiny flicker of hope, but Mavulli quickly snuffed that out with another late strike, sealing a comfortable win for the Tuscan side. The truth is, Napoli looked exactly as the report said: “heavy-legged.” You can’t be looking that sluggish in your first game, no matter if it is pre-season. It’s not a great sign for what Allegri is trying to build.
Lucca’s Sprained Ankle Could Have Huge Ripple Effects
As if the loss wasn’t enough, the bigger gut punch came in the closing stages. Lorenzo Lucca was forced off the pitch in the 85th minute, and Napoli has confirmed a sprained right ankle. They’re going to assess his condition in the coming days, so the severity is still up in the air, but the timing of this injury carries some serious transfer significance. Napoli isn’t panicking yet, but they need clarity. If it’s just a few days or a couple of weeks, suitors for Lucca might not be deterred. But a longer layoff? That could absolutely stall any negotiation they had cooking, and with Fiorentina already watching Lucca with interest for their own attacking options, this injury just got a whole lot more complicated.
Fiorentina Starts Strong While Napoli Stumbles
Meanwhile, a stark contrast emerged in another friendly. Fiorentina, on the other hand, made a winning start, beating Gubbio 1-0 in their first proper friendly of the summer. Albert Gudmundsson nailed a first-half penalty, thanks to new signing Arthur Atta winning the foul. Oulaì even got his debut after the break. The right-sided partnership of Dodo and Fortini reportedly caught some eyes, though Moise Kean did spurn a couple of decent chances. Fiorentina is building some early momentum, which only makes Napoli’s struggles, and Lucca’s injury, sting that much more right now.
Napoli needs to get healthy and figure out their legs fast, because that Lucca ankle situation is going to be the biggest story to watch as these transfer talks heat up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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