Montella emerges as Napoli option as Allegri faces two decisive games

Vincenzo Montella has emerged as a possible successor to Massimiliano Allegri at Napoli, Calciomercato.com reports, with the club’s next two matches set to intensify the scrutiny on the coach. The outlet says five defeats in the first nine games across Serie A and the Champions League have put Allegri’s position and the project around him at risk. Montella is available after leaving his role as Turkey coach, but no appointment has been made.

Napoli host Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday, then welcome Roma in Serie A on Saturday, 24 October. Calciomercato.com reports that two more negative results could lead the club to consider changing manager. La Gazzetta dello Sport also describes the home fixtures as decisive for Allegri’s future.

The results have sharpened questions around Napoli’s choices as well as their form. Calciomercato.com says the club had not started a season so poorly across the league and Champions League in 20 years. In Serie A, Napoli are ninth with 10 points from seven matches: three wins, one draw and three defeats, with a goal difference of plus three.

The latest loss, at Venezia, also brought scrutiny of Allegri’s selection. Calciomercato.com reports that rotation was understandable during a congested run of fixtures, but that pairing Giovane and Lorenzo Lucca in attack raised questions. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that president Aurelio De Laurentiis was taken aback by some of the coach’s choices.

Allegri defended his team’s performances after the defeat, in comments carried by Calciomercato.com. He said the results made concern understandable, but pointed to the chances Napoli created against Villarreal and described the performance against Venezia as orderly, with the team conceding after what he called a half-mistake and an own goal. He said the squad needed to turn disappointment into anger to win matches.

Montella is not the only name linked with a possible change. Calciomercato.com also lists Igor Tudor and Thiago Motta as potential successors, while presenting Montella as an option if Napoli’s situation worsens. For now, Allegri’s immediate chance to answer the concerns comes in two games at the Maradona: first Bodo/Glimt, then Roma. The results could shape whether Napoli continue with their current coach or begin considering alternatives.