Napoli have changed their UEFA list for the Champions League, inserting Brazilian striker Giovane in place of the injured Costantino Favasuli. The change was announced during the press conference the day before, when coach Massimiliano Allegri explained the reasons for the choice.
Giovane, a former Hellas Verona player, has been called up for the away match against Villarreal, which will be held at the Estadio de la Ceramica on the second day of the group stage. The attacker has already proven to be a useful element on the pitch: during his last start he made an assist after just half an hour of play. Allegri underlined that, in addition to his ability to create chances, Giovane possesses "enormous potential" which makes him a player to take into consideration for the next matches.
The main reason for the change is the injury of Favasuli, who suffered a second-degree injury to the rectus femoris of his right thigh during the Under 21 match between Armenia and Italy last October. With his absence, Napoli had to review the composition of the team for the Champions League and decided to give a chance to Giovane, who can contribute with his energy and offensive talent.
Allegri also commented on the health of other key players. He said that McTominay is "definitely better" and that he will evaluate whether to include him in the field immediately. He highlighted the importance of recovering all the players who have returned after long periods of inactivity, such as Neres, Badiashile, McTominay and Giovane, to ensure a balanced lineup ready for future challenges. Furthermore, he announced that Anguissa, Olivera and Alisson will return to the group on Wednesday, underlining the need to have all members available to maintain team cohesion.
With the Champions League in sight, Allegri reiterated that Napoli must remain "with their feet on the ground" and that the key to success will be balance within the team. He recalled that the city of Naples is an engine of passion and enthusiasm, and that the club must be able to channel that energy without losing tactical stability. The next step will be the match against Villarreal, where Giovane and the other recovered players will have the opportunity to demonstrate their value on the pitch.