SSC Napoli has secured the 2024-25 Serie A championship. This title was clinched after a dramatic matchday saw them defeat Cagliari. This marks Napoli`s fourth Serie A title in club history and their second since the stadium was renamed after Diego Armando Maradona. Previous triumphs were in 1986-87, 1989-90, and under Luciano Spalletti in 2022-23. The 2024-25 victory came after a remarkable second-half-of-the-season surge, capitalizing on rivals like Simone Inzaghi`s Inter dropping points, especially while balancing a deep Champions League run. The decisive 2-0 win against Cagliari featured goals from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku.
This is Napoli`s second Serie A title in three seasons. The latest success comes under manager Antonio Conte, who quickly revitalized the team after they failed to qualify for European competitions in 2023-24. This Scudetto is Conte`s first in charge of Napoli and his fifth overall as a manager, adding to three consecutive wins with Juventus (2012-2014) and one with Inter Milan (2020-21). This achievement makes him the only manager to win the Serie A title with three different clubs.
The season proved challenging for both Conte and the club, marked by significant squad changes not only in the summer of 2024 but also during the January transfer window. Notably, Napoli sold star player Kvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG mid-season for approximately $75 million. Despite this major departure, the club chose not to sign a replacement winger in the winter, opting to wait until the summer. This decision reportedly left Conte expressing disappointment on multiple occasions throughout the season.
When Conte took the helm in the summer of 2024, he inherited a team that had finished a disappointing ninth in the 2023-24 Serie A standings, missing out on European football. Despite this, Conte expressed belief that the squad could recapture the success of the 2022-23 title-winning campaign, even while facing roster challenges. Key striker Victor Osimhen departed in the summer of 2024, ultimately moving to Galatasaray on loan after the transfer deadline passed without an agreement with other clubs. While the situation regarding Osimhen`s future remains to be fully resolved, Napoli did sign striker Romelu Lukaku, reuniting him with Conte after their successful Scudetto win together at Inter in 2021.
Conte pushed for significant squad reinforcements during the summer window. Napoli subsequently acquired Alessandro Buongiorno from Torino for $30 million, David Neres from Benfica for $25 million, and notably, Scott McTominay from Manchester United. McTominay proved instantly crucial, contributing 12 goals in 34 appearances. While speculation surrounds Conte`s future at the club, with a potential return to Juventus rumored after the FIFA Club World Cup, for now, Napoli and its fans can wholeheartedly celebrate this remarkable success before any future discussions take place. The time for celebration is here.
