Year: 2023

In the first episode of the week, Joe Fischetti reviews Napoli’s opening match of the 2023/24 campaign against Frosinone as well as the first round of Serie A matches.Part 1: Match Review - Frosinone vs Napoli, including: Cajuste’s difficult debut; Garcia’s tactics versus Spalletti’s; goal reviews; and standout individual performances (~1:16)Part 2: Serie A Matchday 1 review and early indications about who will contend for the Scudetto (~16:18)

On Sunday, SSC Napoli confirmed the acquisition of SSC Bari striker Walid Cheddira and subsequent loan to Frosinone Calcio. “SSC Napoli announces that it has definitively acquired the sports services of Walid Cheddira from SSC Bari. The footballer was transferred today to Frosinone Calcio on loan until 30 June 2024.” Cheddira finished third in the 2022/23 Serie B goal scoring charts with 17 goals and 7 assists. After Elia Caprile, the Morocco international is the second player Napoli have acquired this summer from Bari, who are also owned by the De Laurentiis family. The transfer was expected after the striker…

After conceding an early penalty kick, Napoli remained calm, took control and secured a 1-3 victory over Frosinone. Here are four takeaways selected by Forza Napoli Press. Wing Special Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori demonstrated the importance of the (inverted) wingers to Rudi Garcia’s system. Raspadori lined up on the left wing, deputizing for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was kept out of the squad for precautionary reasons. However, the versatile forward often drifted towards the middle of the park and played as a number 10. Raspadori thought he gave Napoli the advantage in the 35th minute but his goal was disallowed…

Victor Osimhen picked up where he left off, scoring a brace, as Napoli cruised to a 1-3 victory over newly-promoted Frosinone in the opening match of the 2023/24 campaign. Like the first match of the 2022/23 campaign against Hellas Verona, Napoli conceded the opening goal to the home side.  New signing Jens-Lys Michel Cajuste was careless with his clearance in the Napoli area, catching Jaime Báez with his follow-through. Abdou Harroui calmly sent Alex Meret the other way, opening his Frosinone account after his summer transfer from Sassuolo. Cajuste had a difficult debut. In addition to conceding the penalty kick,…

Napoli open their title defense at the 16,000-seat capacity Stadio Benito Stirpe, home of the newly promoted Frosinone Calcio.Frosinone CalcioIn their first Serie A match in four seasons, Frosinone host the defending champions. Fabio Grosso led the Ciociari to a Serie B title, finishing the 2022/23 campaign seven points clear of their nearest competitor. However, the World Cup winner elected to not renew his contract and has been replaced by Eusebio Di Francesco. Di Francesco failed to last a full season at each of his last three coaching jobs. Meanwhile, Frosinone failed to achieve salvation after each of their last…

On Wednesday, Hellas Verona confirmed they have secured the sporting services of Napoli-owned player Michael Folorunsho for the 2023/2024 Serie A campaign. "Hellas Verona FC announces the acquisition - on loan until 06/30/2024 - of midfielder Michael Folorunsho. Born on the 7th of February, 1998, in Rome, Folorunsho began his footballing career at Savio, prior to joining the youth system of Lazio in 2014. After three years, the midfielder joined Virtus Francavilla in Serie C. With the Apulian side, Folorunsho played for two seasons and also made his professional debut on the 30th of July, 2017, in a Coppa Italia…

“Out of respect for the club, I told De Laurentiis straightaway that I needed to take a year off,” said Luciano Spalletti at the MCL Inside the Sport Awards in May. “I’m a bit tired and want to spend time with my daughter Matilde.” With one round remaining in the 2022/23 Serie A campaign, the then-Napoli coach confirmed Azzurri fans’ biggest fear: the man who led their club to its first Scudetto in 33 years would not be staying for a third season.Rumours about Spalletti’s future with the Partenopei started swirling two weeks prior. According to Italian media, the Tuscan…