In fact, it got so bad that the club almost went into administration in the early 2000s. However, Italian film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis bought the club and started a second rejuvenating era for the Neapolitan side, rising from the third division, bringing silverware for the first time in over 20 years, big names coming through the club feeding off the best of the best around the world.
Fast forward to last summer, when Lorenzo Insigne, Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz and Dries Mertens left Napoli last season, a lot of doubt came across the momentum the Partenopei have been having.
"Just another time where they got close to glory but all in vain… yet again."
And rightly so perhaps. If the recent generations boasted Gonzalo Higuain, Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik, Mertens, Koulibaly, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Ruiz, Insigne and other big names couldn’t collect a Scudetto why would the squad that started the 2022/23 season be able to get any closer than them?
In a season where everyone expected Luciano Spalletti to ‘rebuild’ and not challenge for trophies, he decided to surprise and simply make smart money moves and come back even stronger, all with the help of an external factor or two.
In 10 games played, Napoli have the second-best record amongst the big five leagues, right after Champions League winners Real Madrid.
The Italian side remains unbeaten with eight wins and two draws, scoring 25 goals and conceding nine. Not to mention their perfect record in Europe, winning four out their four games so far with 6-1 and 4-2 victories against Ajax as well as a 4-0 triumph at the Maradona at Liverpool’s expense. They are one of four clubs from Europe’s top five leagues who are undefeated both domestically and continentally.
So how is that happening, and can that be the season where the Maradona dreams return?
Maradona’s idolisation has almost created a cult in the southern city - his paintings, pictures and name fill the city, a bar is known to have a transparent box holding the Argentinian’s hair labelling it "miraculous" at the heart of an altar.
This deity and religious aspect has held high standards and often harsh criticism of any new side and stand-out players are very quickly compared to the former number 10.
A good part of the culture is still living in the past, still dreaming of that time, where the rebellious Maradona had the perfect relationship with the somewhat marginalised city of Naples who built a siege mentality to Italy as well as Europe.
For Napoli, it means so much more than a Scudetto.
And because it does, the faithful, despite their high standards, have been more than patient in reviving hopes and getting behind the team no matter how frustratingly close they got, there is a relentlessness about the club, one inherited of the city and its people.
This time, what seemed like a sad malaise is rather representing the genesis of a potentially very exciting era for one of Italy’s biggest underdogs.
When it came to the transfer window, they spent smarter rather than more. Far from shiny new names but ones who have made a lasting impact and the season hasn’t reached its half yet.
Following the departure of stars and big names at the club, they decided to not let the grieving phase last long and quickly moved on. Bringing in Kim Min-Jae, Mathias Oliveira, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giacomo Raspadori, Leo Ostigard, Salvatore Sirigu, Giovanni Simeone and Tanguy Ndombele. All for less than £70million.
The talk of their transfer window, Kvaratskhelia, the youngster was bought for about £10 million from Dinamo Batumi already has 13 goal contributions (seven goals and six assists) in all competitions. When compared to Juventus' new £60 million (without add-ons) recruit Dusan Vlahovic who has managed eight (seven goals and one assist), the Georgian is already showing what a bargain he is for the Neapolitans.
Striker Vlahovic was brought on to score goals and not necessarily provide chances, but the fact remains that the Georgian, who only had experience in the Russian league, has found the net on as many occasions as is now one of the world’s most promising and talked about forwards.
'Kvaradona' has taken Serie A and the Champions League by storm. His character, confidence, flair and celebrations very quickly won over the hearts at the Maradona. His debut against Verona saw him score a goal and create another. After heading in the equaliser at the Bentegodi, he casually mimicked sleeping to make fun of his distracted defensive opponents.
Incidentally, Maradona’s debut took place at the same ground, as if there weren’t enough comparisons and common points.
Giacomo Raspadori is part of the future of Italian football and the locals have been excited about him for a couple of years now. A Sassuolo academy graduate, he has been linked with big moves for a while but he picked the Partenopei. The striker has five goals and an assist, four of which came in the Champions League against Ajax and Rangers.
Another goalscorer comes in the form of Diego Simeone’s son, Giovanni, who has been stepping out of his father’s shadow in recent years. Scoring 17 goals and making five with Hellas Verona last season, he is now a part of the Azzurri with four goals in all competitions.
Ndombele is a midfielder who showed real potential back as a young prodigy with Lyon between 2017 and 2019 before a flopped move to the Premier League in Tottenham colours. His early season form has been indifferent but there is still a lot of football to play and with a manager like Spalletti, his best form might resurface once more.
Another area where a lot of doubt was cast on was the defence. With the departure of former captain Koulibaly, the great Napoli wall was feared to become shaky. However, an unsung hero of recent seasons and the player with one of the highest appearances in a Napoli shirt amongst this squad is Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who has stepped up to a leadership role at the back, alongside Amir Rrahmani and new signing Min-Jae. The breaches to their defence have been few, even substitute Juan Jesus has prevailed when called upon following Rrahmani’s injury.
The record isn’t a very impressive one but remains solid, conceding nine goals in Serie A, behind Lazio, Atalanta and Juventus.
Spalletti has got to receive a good part of the credit here, managed to keep spirits high and restore, yet again, belief and ambition for glory. They have been tested more than once with victories against tough sides like Ajax and Liverpool in Europe and continued to assert dominance domestically, triumphing against reigning champions AC Milan as well as imposing Lazio.
The Italian maestro’s dynamic high pressing and stamina filled 4-3-3 doesn’t seem to get old but evolves with time as the system’s members become more and more understanding of it.
Another reason this season might just be the season for Napoli is simply that for the first time in more than 10 years, Serie A is returning to its old competitiveness of previous decades. Juve's dominance has faded with shortcomings and failures both on and off the pitch and the rise of other sides like the last two Serie A winners Inter and AC Milan, there is a higher chance to take a Scudetto home.
The Partenopei are headed to the capital for the Derby Del Sole on Sunday, visiting Roma for another chance to test and sharpen their skills, they have proved reliable in tough contests and the 90 minutes at the Olimpico shouldn’t be different.
It is worth noting that there will be an interesting dugout clash with beloved former Roma manager Spalletti returning to play against none other than Jose Mourinho, the Italian has yet to win against the ‘Special One’ and if there is a time to do it, it would be this weekend.
A win in the capital would cement Napoli's title credentials. They failed to do so in 1989 with Maradona, but perhaps this team can break the shackles of their hero and create new fairytales for their adoring fans. They have the reinforcements, a bruising mentality and an open Serie A - if there is a time to create history, it is now.
