Ahead of the Serie A showdown with Monza, Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna weighed in on the midfield switch from Lobotka to De Bruyne and highlighted the league’s emerging scorer Gustavo Varela.
Key points
- Manna sees De Bruyne as an offensive midfielder distinct from Lobotka, but believes the change will not disrupt Napoli’s overall tactics.
- Monza’s Gustavo Varela is the league’s top scorer with seven goals in as many games, attracting attention from multiple clubs.
- Napoli aims to recover from the Roma draw by addressing the absence of key players and maintaining squad depth.
Giovanni Manna, Napoli’s sporting director, spoke to DAZN before the Monza‑Napoli match, reflecting on the team’s 3‑3 draw with Roma and the need to recover after missing two balance‑shifting players, Scott McTominay and Christopher Anguissa.
When asked about a possible midfield change, Manna explained that Kevin De Bruyne will rest while Stanislav Lobotka returns to the central role, noting that De Bruyne is an offensive midfielder – a classic number‑10 – whose skill set differs from Lobotka, who has been regarded as the best playmaker in Serie A for years, but that the alteration does not fundamentally change Napoli’s game plan.
De Bruyne vs Lobotka: a tactical note
Manna also turned his attention to Monza’s forward Gustavo Varela, a 21‑year‑old Portuguese striker who leads the league with seven goals in seven matches, outscoring stars such as Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram, and described him as a “strong player with many qualities.”
He added that Napoli sent a scout to Torino‑Monza to assess Varela, while acknowledging interest from other clubs, including Benfica, but stopped short of confirming any transfer intentions.
Varela’s goal surge draws attention
Finally, Manna stressed that Napoli must analyse the Roma defeat with clarity, replace the missing influence of McTominay and Anguissa, and rely on the squad’s depth to avoid mistakes against Monza.
Reader questions
Who is Giovanni Manna?
Giovanni Manna is the sporting director of Serie A club Napoli, responsible for player recruitment and strategic decisions.
What did Manna say about Kevin De Bruyne and Stanislav Lobotka?
Manna said De Bruyne is an offensive midfielder (a number‑10) with different characteristics from Lobotka, who has been the best playmaker in the Italian league for years, but that the switch does not change Napoli’s overall approach.
How is Gustavo Varela performing this season?
Varela, a 21‑year‑old Portuguese forward for Monza, is the league’s top scorer with seven goals in seven matches, surpassing players like Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram.
Source: ilnapolista.it
