Napoli's immediate focus is on securing a Champions League berth, with a victory away to Como on Saturday all but mathematically guaranteeing their place in next season's competition, according to reports from Italy. The club, currently led by Antonio Conte, requires five points from their final four Serie A matches to confirm qualification, a prerequisite for the crucial end-of-season summit between Conte and president Aurelio De Laurentiis. That meeting is expected to address fundamental issues surrounding the squad's future, including an urgent need for rejuvenation, given Napoli currently fields the oldest squad in Serie A based on total minutes played by its players this season.
The financial sustainability of a wage bill that has ballooned to a club-record 109 million euros gross will also be a central topic, alongside the strategic guidelines for the summer transfer window and overall squad management. Conte's own contract, which runs until 2027, will be discussed as well. However, all planning remains contingent on securing top-tier European football, a task that brings Napoli to a ground where they have not won a league match since June 1989.
For the crucial fixture in Como, Conte is expected to largely confirm the lineup that defeated Cremonese. Alex Meret, after eight years at the club, is likely to start on the bench with Nikita Contini favored in goal, amid speculation this could be Meret's final season in Naples. The defensive trio will be anchored by Amir Rrahmani, whose presence has been statistically vital; with him in the lineup, Napoli have conceded just 16 goals in 23 games with 13 clean sheets, compared to 34 goals conceded in 34 games without him. He is set to be flanked by Mathías Olivera and Alessandro Buongiorno.
Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, absent since late January due to injury and subsequent foot surgery, is reportedly set to return to the matchday squad but will begin on the bench. In midfield, Frank Anguissa remains out, with Scott McTominay poised to partner Stanislav Lobotka. The attack will see Matteo Politano on the right, with Giovanni Simeone leading the line supported by Kevin De Bruyne and the in-form Brazilian winger Alisson Santos on the left. Alisson's influence has been notable; with him on the pitch, Napoli has scored 13 goals in their last 11 games, compared to just 4 in matches without him, a factor that has led Conte to temporarily shelve plans for a four-man midfield.
Looking ahead, Napoli's summer will be defined by the outcome of their Champions League chase and the subsequent talks between Conte and De Laurentiis. The need for a significant squad overhaul, given the aging core and high wage structure, suggests a busy transfer period lies ahead, with the club's ability to attract top talent heavily dependent on offering Champions League football.
