Injury Setbacks for Serie A Champions Napoli and Tensions in International Football

The Serie A champions, Napoli, are facing a significant setback as in-form midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has sustained a hamstring injury during a training session with the Cameroon national team ahead of their World Cup qualifiers. Zambo Anguissa has been a key player for Antonio Conte’s squad, contributing four goals and participating in 10 out of 11 Serie A matches this season. Unfortunately, he is now sidelined for several months, a considerable loss for Napoli.

In a similar instance, Amir Rrahmani suffered a hamstring injury while representing Kosovo in September, which kept him off the pitch until early November, when he made his return against Como in Serie A.

Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, expressed his frustration with FIFA regarding the club’s losses, stating in an interview with Motore Italia: “I loaned Rrahmani, and he returned injured; Anguissa has also returned injured. We cannot continue in this manner. During the championships, I need to reach the end without interruptions. We require fewer teams and fewer matches.

Players receive salaries from their clubs, and clubs should have the discretion to decide whether or not to release them for national duty. If a player is injured while on international duty, the transfer window should be reopened, and we should receive compensation. Unfortunately, it appears that FIFA and UEFA are indifferent to the concerns of national leagues.”

In related developments, Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal withdrew from the Spain national team for November fixtures due to injury, which provoked a response from the Spanish Football Association (RFEF). The RFEF issued a statement expressing surprise at Yamal’s decision, which was communicated late without prior discussion with their medical staff. They emphasized their commitment to prioritizing the player’s health and wished him a swift recovery.

Spain’s head coach Luis De La Fuente had previously defended his decision to include Yamal, citing his excellent condition following recent performances at Barcelona. However, ongoing fitness issues have led to speculation of tensions between the RFEF and Barcelona regarding player selection.

A similar scenario unfolded in France, where Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé was sidelined for several weeks after participating in national team duties, leading to public discord between the club and the French Football Association. France’s coach Didier Deschamps opted not to include Dembélé in his latest squad after the Ballon d’Or winner sustained another injury while playing for PSG in the Champions League.

Despite a promising start to their title defense, Napoli has struggled in recent Serie A matches, failing to secure a win in their last two games. Currently in fourth place in the league, their recent loss to Bologna has allowed Inter Milan to ascend to the top of the Serie A table with 24 points from 11 matches, two points ahead of the reigning champions. Napoli will return to action following the international break on November 22, facing Atalanta in what will be a crucial Serie A clash.