Skip to content
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Antonio Conte head coach of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund are expected to start for Napoli in an away game at Cagliari today, and Corriere dello Sport describes the new Partenopei attacking trio as ‘made in Manchester.’
- Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News – Free Trial – Click Here
Conte picks new Napoli attacking trident
Napoli coach Antonio Conte will field an unprecedented attacking trio for a Serie A match against Cagliari today, as the Italian tactician is expected to start De Bruyne, McTominay and Hojlund up front at the Unipol Domus Arena.
The trio started several matches in the first part of the season before De Bruyne’s muscle injury in October, but back then, the Belgian ace was deployed as a central midfielder and McTominay as a left winger.
Napoli’s system in the first months of 2025-26 was 4-2-3-1, but Conte has long changed the team’s set-up using a 3-4-2-1 for the last few months.
With De Bruyne back in action since the beginning of March, Conte has integrated the ex-Manchester City star into his new system, and later today, De Bruyne will start as an attacking midfielder alongside McTominay, behind the sole striker Hojlund.
De Bruyne has not started a Serie A match for Napoli since October 25, 2025, when he suffered a high-degree injury after less than 40 minutes in a home match against Inter.
De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer, while both McTominay and Hojlund moved to the Stadio Maradona from Manchester United.
McTominay is in his second season at Napoli, while Hojlund joined the Serie A giants last summer, on loan with an obligation to buy.
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
