Blog

Mauro Meluso Dimaro Press Conference in Full
17
Jul
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Mauro Meluso Dimaro Press Conference in Full

On Saturday, Mauro Meluso gave his first press conference at Dimaro Folgarida. Forza Napoli Press brings you the entire press conference in English. Opening Remarks Head of communications, Nicola Lombardo - Thank you as always for coming tonight. This is our press conference to present our new sporting director. Just to say, to give honor to the merit of whoever chose the figure that is Aurelio De Laurentiis, I call the president, for a few minutes for an introductory greeting, please president. SSC Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis - Good evening everyone. Mr. Mauro Meluso was borne from the concerted…
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Napoli Defeat Girona 3-1 in Third Friendly at Castel Di Sangro
03
Aug
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Napoli Defeat Girona 3-1 in Third Friendly at Castel Di Sangro

On Wednesday, SSC Napoli hosted La Liga club Girona FC for the third friendly match at the Stadio Teofilo Patini in Castel Di Sangro. After consecutive draws in the friendlies against Adana Demirspor and Mallorca, Napoli defeated Girona 3-1. Matteo Politano exited the match midway through the first half with an apparent calf injury. He was replaced by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, confirming that the Georgian did not suffer a serious injury in Napoli’s previous friendly match against Mallorca. Napoli opened the scoring in the 27th minute after ex-Napoli player David Lopez inadvertently redirected Hirving Lozano’s cross into the back of his…
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Mertens Bids a Heartfelt Farewell to Napoli
03
Aug
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Mertens Bids a Heartfelt Farewell to Napoli

On Wednesday, Dries Mertens posted a heartfelt farewell message to Napoli fans, teammates and staff on his Instagram page. In the post, Mertens thanked the people of Napoli and confirmed that he will keep his house on the bay, so he can return home as often as possible. https://twitter.com/dries_mertens14/status/1554912246849060865?s=20&t=3GydjL9YaCxvWrYcsSvkuw Dear Neapolitans, my fellow citizens. I knew this day would come eventually, but I never knew it would be so difficult for me…Saying goodbye to this city that adopted me, that loved me and supported me through both difficult times and wonderful times. The records and victories will be in the…
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This Is Our Reality
25
Jul
By Joe Fischetti
Opinion

This Is Our Reality

On July 23rd, S.S.C Napoli officially confirmed that the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, Dries Mertens, will not play for Napoli this season. With each passing day, it seemed less and less likely that Mertens would sign a new contract. Many Napoli fans took to social media on Saturday to bid farewell to Mertens, after Carlo Alvino of Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli reported that, amongst other topics, De Laurentiis would confirm Mertens’ departure in their interview on Saturday evening. https://twitter.com/en_sscnapoli/status/1551126818756956161?s=20&t=3ducIR7uS35QH_xapBEUCQ The announcement drew an emotional reaction from Napoli fans all over the world, as you would expect with the departure…
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Insigne Assist in MLS Debut
24
Jul
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Insigne Assist in MLS Debut

It didn’t take long for Lorenzo Insigne to make his presence felt in Toronto. Il Magnifico played a clever back-heel flick to assist captain Michael Bradley on his second goal of the match. The goal, scored just before the break, was Toronto FC’s record-setting fourth of the first half. Insigne nearly picked up his first MLS point only minutes into the match. His inswinging corner kick found an unmarked Jonathan Osorio at the second post, but the Canadian’s volley finished just over the bar. Meanwhile, ex-Juventus winger Federico Bernardeschi made his Toronto FC debut as well and outshined his Euro-winning…
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Lipoff New Napoli Femminile Coach
17
Jul
By Joe Fischetti
Napoli Femminile

Lipoff New Napoli Femminile Coach

On July 2, 2022, Napoli Femminile President Alessandro Maiello, alongside honourary president Rafaele Carlino, announced the signing of new coach Dimitri Lipoff. The French coach is the first international coach of Napoli Femminile. Lipoff began his career with Lyon’s youth teams, where he worked as a physical trainer under Farid Benstiti. After two seasons at Lyon, Lipoff followed Bensiti to WFC Rossiyanka in Russia where he became assistant coach and athletic trainer. During this time there, Rossiyanka won the 2012 Russian Championship and reached the quarter-finals of the 2012/13 Women’s UEFA Champions League. At the same time, Lipoff became the…
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16
Jul
By Joe Fischetti
Napoli Primavera

D’Agostino Joins S.S Juve Stabia

Giuseppe D’Agostino has officially joined Serie C club S.S. Juve Stabia on a loan transfer. Born in 2003, D’Agostino spent the last two seasons with Napoli’s primavera squad. In 2020/21, he scored four goals and added 10 assists in 20 appearances, helping the Azzurrini earn promotion to Primavera 1. D’Agostino scored five goals and added five assists in 33 appearances in 2021/22. Though he’s naturally a second striker, Napoli Primavera coach Nicolo Frustalupi was forced to use D’Agostino as a right wing-back due to simultaneous injuries to Domenico Di Dona and Matteo Marchisano. The change also enabled Frustalupi to play…
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Cioffi joins U.S. Città di Pontedera
16
Jul
By Joe Fischetti
Napoli Primavera

Cioffi joins U.S. Città di Pontedera

Antonio Cioffi has officially joined Serie C club U.S. Città di Pontedera on a loan transfer. Born in 2003, Cioffi spent the last two seasons with Napoli’s primavera squad. Cioffi missed the start of the 2021/22 campaign due to covid and the end of the campaign due to a foot fracture, but still managed to score 5 goals in 29 appearances for the Azzurrini. A natural winger, Cioffi struggled to adapt to coach Nicolo Frustalupi’s 3-4-2-1 formation, where he was predominantly used as a trequartista. Cioffi scored most of his goals when he was used as a striker. Cioffi scored…
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Eye for Five
15
Jul
By Daniel Del Grosso
SSC Napoli

Eye for Five

The 2025/26 season preparation is upon us, with Napoli looking to win back to back Scudetti and three titles in the last four years. In anticipation of a busy season, including a return to the UEFA Champions League, Antonio Conte and club management have been busy preparing to improve the squad with quality signings.  The Azzurri have already secured the signatures of Manchester City legend and one of the best midfielders of the modern era, Kevin De Bruyne, on a free transfer, as well as the highly-rated Empoli centre back Luca Marinucci for €10 million. The summer ritiri (retreats) are…
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The Weight of a Name
23
Jan
By Vinny Sireci
Features, SSC Napoli, ,

The Weight of a Name

In Naples, the ever-present shadow of Mount Vesuvius looms over the city, but it is the towering legacy of Diego Maradona that casts the larger, more profound silhouette over its people and their beloved football club. Diego Maradona's arrival in 1984 transcended the boundaries of football. For a city often marginalized and overshadowed within Italy, Maradona became more than just a player. He was a symbol of hope, pride, and defiance. D10s, as he is often referred to, took Napoli from underdogs to a dominant force in Serie A, winning two league titles, a UEFA Cup, and the Coppa Italia.…
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Juan Jesus: Will He Stay or Will He Go?
07
Jan
By Joe Fischetti
Features, SSC Napoli,

Juan Jesus: Will He Stay or Will He Go?

On Saturday, Napoli secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Fiorentina to close the Girone di Andata. With Atalanta and Inter in Riyadh for the Supercoppa Italiana, Gli Azzurri moved clear of their Northern rivals at the top of the table. Antonio Conte has rapidly turned things around for Napoli, who were 20 points from the top of the table at this point last season, and the prospect of a fourth Scudetto might have changed the club’s approach to the January transfer market. Conte is keen to improve his squad’s depth, seeking replacements for Michael Folorunsho and Alessio Zerbin, who are on…
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2017/18 Napoli: Where Are They Now?
03
Jan
By Vinny Sireci
SSC Napoli, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2017/18 Napoli: Where Are They Now?

The news of Napoli terminating Mario Rui's contract marks the end of an era for one of the club’s enduring figures, as well as the last remaining player from the Sarri regime. Rui spent over seven years with the club and contributed to both the 2022-23 Scudetto and 2020 Coppa Italia victories. As Napoli continues to evolve, it’s worth revisiting the iconic 2017-2018 squad. The team earned 91 points in Serie A, the most in the club’s storied history. Managed by Maurizio Sarri, the team stacked with club legends like Dries Mertens, Marek Hamsik and Kalidou Koulibaly, thrilled fans with…
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Napoli Much Improved but Disappoint Again
29
Apr
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Napoli Much Improved but Disappoint Again

On Friday evening, Napoli’s players and coaching staff boarded a bus at the Konami training centre in Castel Volturno and departed for the Novotel Hotel in Caserta, where they would spend the next 48 hours preparing for Sunday’s Derby del Sole. The shortened ritiro came after one of the Azzurri’s worst performances of the season – a 0-1 defeat to 17th-placed Empoli.In recent days, details have surfaced of a near-physical altercation between two senators of the locker room, Juan Jesus and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. According to CalcioNapoli24, Juan Jesus and Andrè-Frank Zambo Anguisa went behind their captain’s back to plead…
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What Happens if Roma or Atalanta Win the Europa League?
19
Apr
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

What Happens if Roma or Atalanta Win the Europa League?

On Thursday, Roma defeated Milan and Atalanta held Liverpool to one goal to advance to the Semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.  With a 50% chance of an Italian club winning the competition, Forza Napoli Press explains the implications of those same clubs ending the Serie A campaign in a Top 7 position. New FormatThe Champions League has been reformatted for the 2024/25 campaign, expanding from 32 teams to 36.  Each domestic league may enter a certain number of teams in the competition, as determined by their respective association coefficients.  Based on the current association coefficient rankings, entries for each…
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19
Mar
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Follow Napoli Players During The March International Break – Complete Schedule

Between UEFA Euro qualifying and international friendlies, 10 Napoli players have been called up to their respective national teams for the current international break. Victor Osimhen was called up to the Nigeria national team but will not participate in their friendlies against Ghana and Mali as the striker continues to recover from a muscular injury suffered against Barcelona.  Though he travelled with the team to Georgia, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will not be in the lineup for Georgia's UEFA Euro qualifier due to suspension.  With a potential change in formation, Matteo Politano was left out of Luciano Spalletti’s 28-man Azzurri squad. Stay…
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Accepting Defeat:  Napoli Exit the Champions League
14
Mar
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Accepting Defeat:  Napoli Exit the Champions League

On Tuesday, Napoli’s 2023/24 Champions League run came to an end after a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Spain.  The Azzurri’s first defeat under Francesco Calzona was the latest in a growing list of disappointments this season.In December, Napoli exited the Coppa Italia in the Round of 16, suffering an embarrassing 0-4 defeat to newly-promoted Frosinone. Just over a month later, they missed an opportunity to become the first Supercoppa Italiana winners under the new format. With Lautaro Martinez’ 91st-minute winner at the Al-Awwal Park in Saudi Arabia, the Partenopei left a trophy and…
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Napoli-Torino: Ten Quick Hits
09
Mar
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Napoli-Torino: Ten Quick Hits

Antonio Sanabria levelled the scoreline with a close-range bicycle kick shortly after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring. Forza Napoli Press explored 10 quick takeaways from the 1-1 draw.   1.  Kvara is BackKhvicha Kvaratskhelia was undoubtedly the man of the match. With his fourth goal in three matches, the Georgian reached double-digit goals for a second consecutive season, laying to rest any suggestions that he was a one-season wonder. The Napoli winger led all players with 8 shot attempts, four shots on target and an individual xG of 0.7, benefitting from the freedom Francesco Calzona afforded him to roam. In an…
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Napoli U19 Rise to Primavera Promotion Playoff Zone After the Return of Two Players
03
Mar
By Joe Fischetti
SSC Napoli

Napoli U19 Rise to Primavera Promotion Playoff Zone After the Return of Two Players

Napoli Primavera needed an 89th minute own goal to secure all three points in Saturday's match against Monopoli U19. The victory marked the Azzurrini’s fifth win in their last six matches. The run of form coincides with the return of two youth players in late January. Trequartista Alessandro Spavone and striker Antonio Pesce were both loaned to Pro Vercelli in July, following in the footsteps of former Primavera teammates Antonio Vergara and Coli Saco. Neither made much of an impact at the Serie C club. Spavone made 8 appearances (7 starts) through 23 rounds, while Pesce featured only once in the…
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