Napoli’s summer recruitment was deliberately restrained, but the first minutes of the season have already given two new arrivals a place in Max Allegri’s wider plan. Benoît Badiashile and Costantino Favasuli have shared 105 minutes so far, a modest total that reflects both the stability of the side and the demanding spell that now awaits the squad.
Key takeaways
- Badiashile joined Napoli from Chelsea on a €3 million loan, with a €27 million option to buy.
- The 25-year-old centre-back has played only 10 minutes, all of them coming against Inter at San Siro.
- Rafa Marín and Amir Rrahmani have started every match together in central defence under Allegri.
- Favasuli, 22, has made three substitute appearances for a total of 95 minutes.
- The former Catanzaro player supplied the decisive assist for Lobotka against Bologna and is currently with Italy Under-21s.
Badiashile waits behind an established defensive pair
Napoli did not approach the market as a club seeking a broad rebuild. The group was largely protected, with the club choosing to make only the additions it considered necessary: one defensive reinforcement and one player for the wide areas.
Badiashile arrived when Napoli’s defensive resources were under pressure. Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci were unavailable, while Sam Beukema’s summer had been affected by a tendon issue that has since been overcome. Sporting director Giovanni Manna turned to the former Monaco defender, who remains under contract at Chelsea.
The Frenchman was selected for his physical and athletic profile. He had impressed in Ligue 1 with Monaco, although his Chelsea spell did not develop in the same way, partly because of fitness problems. At 25, however, Napoli believe there is still room for him to recover his best level.
His introduction could scarcely have been more difficult. Badiashile came on in the 80th minute against Inter at the Meazza and was beaten in the air by Marcus Thuram for the equaliser, scored as Cristian Chivu’s team increased their attacking pressure. He has remained among the substitutes since that 10-minute appearance.
For now, Allegri has entrusted the centre of his defence to Marín and Rrahmani, the only pairing to begin every game together. Badiashile’s assessment must therefore wait. Napoli face a run of nine matches between international breaks, a sequence likely to test the depth of the squad and offer the newcomer an opportunity to move beyond the difficult Milan debut.
Favasuli offers Allegri a different kind of option
Favasuli has made a quicker early contribution. Napoli paid a total of €7 million for the 22-year-old, who has accumulated 95 minutes across three cameos and has already shown an ability to influence matches from the right.
He made his first appearance against Arsenal at the Maradona, then featured again in Fuorigrotta before entering during the second half against Fiorentina. In that match he went close with a header, only for David de Gea to produce an outstanding save. He also created Lobotka’s decisive goal against Bologna.
Currently away with Silvio Baldini’s Italy Under-21 side for European Championship qualifying, Favasuli represents a flexible solution for Allegri when he returns to club duty. The coach has mainly used him high on the right, rotating him with Matteo Politano, but his value may extend well beyond that role.
He can operate on the left, play as a full-back in a back four or take up a more advanced wing-back position, as he did at Catanzaro. In a season that will be shaped by accumulation as much as individual afternoons, Napoli’s two summer additions have different routes into the side. Badiashile is waiting for the defensive door to open; Favasuli has already begun to make his case from the flanks.
