5 Players Set to Shape Napoli's 2012-13 Season

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Walter Mazzarri has brought the glory days back to Napoli—the San Paolo fans have been enthralled by their side over the last 24 months. The days of retired No.10 Diego Maradona are being relived by the current crop, and much is expected in 2012-13. After making the Champions League knockout rounds last season, escaping the Group of Death and eliminating Manchester City en route, Il Partenopei beat Juventus in the Coppa Italia final to send their supporters into rapture.

However, with no Champions League football next term the upcoming campaign hinges on a knife edge. Between players leaving, arriving and uncertain where they will play their football next term, there are a number of participants that will shape the team’s style of play in 2012-13.

Edinson Cavani

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Cavani has been the San Paolo side’s shining light and most dangerous attacking weapon over the last two years and struck fear into opponents across Italy and Europe. The Uruguay international marksman is now recognised as one of the most lethal attackers in the world game.

Eccentric Napoli chairman Aurelio Di Laurentiis has put a €100 million price tag on the South American forward’s head, but Juventus and Chelsea are loitering trying to pry the ex-Palermo man away from San Paolo. Whether Cavani stays with Napoli or not will be a key factor in deciding the side’s fortunes.

Lorenzo Insigne

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If Cavani does opt to move elsewhere, the goalscoring mantle will need to be picked up by others. Although Goran Pandev and Marek Hamsik will contribute to the tally, 2012-13 could well be the campaign that shoots Lorenzo Insigne into the limelight.

The Italian under-21 striker is one of the hottest prospects in the game in Italy and has  expectations growing on his shoulders. After prolific loan spells at Foggia and Pescara over the last two seasons, Insigne is now expected to be ready for first-team consideration. Having scored a goal against Bayern Munich in the preseason indicates that Insigne could well be an important player for Mazzarri’s men next term.

Eduardo Vargas

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One of the key changes in Napoli’s squad for next term has been the sale of talented forward Ezequiel Lavezzi to big-spending Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine provided the bulk of the Naples-based team’s creativity and dynamic thrust in attack last season and will need to be replaced if Napoli wants to stay at their current level.

The man to do this should be Eduardo Vargas, who signed for Napoli in January after being accredited as one of the most exciting players to come out of South America in recent times. The Chilean international was only allowed fleeting appearances last term, as he adapted to his new environment and as the Hamsik-Cavani-Lavezzi trident shone. This season, Vargas will be expected to mirror the promise that he showed for Universidad de Chile and terrorise Serie A defence.

Valon Behrami

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The Swiss midfield journeyman impressed in his debut season for Fiorentina last term, showing poise with the ball and in his battling qualities for the Viola. The 27-year-old has moved to San Paolo in a double deal alongside Alessandro Gamberini and will bolster Mazzarri’s squad.

Behrami will be in contention with countryman Blerim Dzemaili for a berth in the Partenopei’s central midfield and could well spark up an exciting partnership with fellow Switzerland international Gokhan Inler in the engine room. The pair will look to dominate possession and offer protection for the side’s back three.

Christian Maggio

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Napoli’s threat going forward is centred around their attacking trio, but the importance of the side’s wing-backs should not be understated. Both Christian Maggio on the right and Andrea Dossena on the left offer width, quality delivery and an out ball for the side, making Napoli one of the most exhilarating teams to watch in the country.

However, both Maggio and Dossena have been linked with exits from the club this summer,  and their abilities are being sought elsewhere. Although Di Laurentiis will be focussed on fighting off other clubs' attempts to sign Cavani, holding onto Italian international Maggio is important to the side’s style of play also.