When Alex Meret, goalkeeper of SSC Napoli (born 22 March 1997 in Udine, Italy), joined by defenders Giovanni Di Lorenzo, captain and Leonardo Spinazzola, midfielder Frank Anguissa, Belgian midfield dynamo Kevin De Bruyne, Danish forward Rasmus Højlund, Scottish midfielders Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, and Italy U‑21 prospect Luca Marianucci were all handed national‑team summons for the October 2025 International BreakEurope, the squad under head coach Antonio Conte now faces a juggling act between World Cup qualifiers and its historic centennial campaign.
Ten first‑team members will leave the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona between 8 October and 14 October 2025 to represent seven different nations. The breakdown is simple: three Italians in the senior Azzurri side, two Scots in the Scotland squad, a Cameroonian, a Belgian, a Danish, a Macedonian and a young Italian in the U‑21s. The matches span three confederations – UEFA, CAF and the U‑21 European Championship – turning Napoli’s training ground into a mini‑airport hub.
Italian seniors: Alex Meret, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Leonardo Spinazzola will line up under Luciano Spalletti for the Euro‑qualifiers against Estonia (11 Oct, Tallinn) and Israel (14 Oct, Naples). The home match gives Napoli a rare chance to watch one of their own defend their club’s own turf.
Cameroon: Midfielder Frank Anguissa joins Rigobert Song’s side for clashes with Mauritius (8 Oct, Curepipe) and Angola (13 Oct, Yaoundé). It’s a long haul to the Indian Ocean, meaning Meret’s backup Vanja Milinković‑Savić may get a few extra minutes in Napoli’s own training sessions.
Belgium: The club’s Serie A top scorer, Kevin De Bruyne, will travel to Brussels (10 Oct) and Cardiff (13 Oct) for Domenico Tedesco’s fixtures against North Macedonia and Wales. He’s only netted three league goals so far, but his presence in the Belgian midfield is a reminder of Napoli’s growing European profile.
North Macedonia: Eljif Elmas will appear opposite his Napoli teammate De Bruyne, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the 10 Oct Brussels game.
Scotland: Youngsters Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay have been called up by Steve Clarke for matches against Greece (9 Oct, Glasgow) and Belarus (12 Oct, Barysaw). Their dual‑nationality backgrounds spark conversation among fans about loyalty and club‑country balance.
Denmark: The 22‑year‑old forward Rasmus Højlund, Napoli’s overall season top scorer with four goals, will feature in Belarus (9 Oct) and Greece (12 Oct). His speed will be put to the test on both sides of the Øresund.
Italy U‑21: Finally, 22‑year‑old Luca Marianucci joins the under‑21 squad for the UEFA qualifiers versus Sweden (10 Oct, Trento) and Armenia (14 Oct, Bassano del Grappa). It’s his first senior‑level exposure and a potential springboard for a permanent Azzurri place.
2025‑26 marks Napoli’s 100th year of existence and the 19th straight campaign in Serie A. The club, managed by Conte—who famously guided Italy to the Euro 2020 title—already juggles the domestic league, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and a Champions League group. Losing ten first‑team players, even temporarily, could ripple through training intensity and tactical preparation.
That said, the coaching staff plans to use the break wisely. While the internationals are away, reserve goalkeeper Vanja Milinković‑Savić will get extra minutes in the backup squad, and young defenders like Alessandro Buongiorno will step into first‑team drills. The club’s sports science department has already mapped out recovery protocols for players returning from long‑haul flights.
Napoli’s fixture list resumes swiftly: Matchday 9 against Cagliari on 18 Oct at 20:45 CET. The squad will regroup at the SSC Napoli Sports Center in Castel Volturno on 15 Oct, giving the coaching staff just three days to knit the returning internationals back into the tactical framework.
Napoli’s centenary has already delivered memorable moments—signing world‑class talent, a Champions League debut and a domestic cup win in 2024. This round of call‑ups underscores the club’s growing reputation as a talent magnet: players from four continents now wear the blue shirt.
Looking ahead, the real test will be how Napoli manages fatigue. If the internationals stay injury‑free, the club could leverage their refreshed experience to push higher in the league table. Conversely, a spate of knocks could see the squad dip in form just as the Champions League group stage looms.
With ten starters absent, Napoli’s training sessions will rely heavily on reserves. If the returning players come back fit, the club could retain its current points tally; however, any injuries or fatigue could see a slip in the standings during the crucial weeks that follow.
Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Højlund each face two qualifiers, but De Bruyne also travels across three countries (Belgium, Wales, and potentially a neutral venue for a play‑off), giving him the longest cumulative travel time.
His performances against Sweden and Armenia will be closely monitored by Roberto Vincenzi, Italy’s senior coach. Strong showings could fast‑track him into the senior call‑up pool, especially if injuries hit the senior midfield.
Vanja Milinković‑Savić steps in as the first‑choice keeper for training. He’ll also feature in any friendly matches scheduled by the club to keep his match rhythm sharp.
A fit and battle‑tested squad could bring momentum into the group stage. Conversely, any late‑stage injuries sustained during the qualifiers could force Conte to rotate his line‑up, potentially affecting cohesion against European heavyweights.
Written by Zimkita Khayone Mvunge
View all posts by: Zimkita Khayone Mvunge