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Napoli midfielder Anguissa suffers thigh lesion injury to joins de Bruyne, Lukaku in injury list. latest official reports a serious muscle injury that will keep him sidelined for several months.
Napoli have been hit hard by injuries in the last few weeks. Three names keep coming up: André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
Each injury on its own would cause worry. Taken together, they force Napoli to rethink how they manage games, rotate the squad and move in the transfer market.
Below I explain what we know about each case, how it happened, and what it likely means for Napoli in the short and medium term.
Napoli confirmed the diagnosis after the midfielder felt the problem while with Cameroon and had scans.
Anguissa is not just any midfielder. He is a physical presence who breaks up play, carries the ball forward and gives Napoli a steady defensive shield in midfield.
Losing him removes a key balance from Conte’s side: someone who covers ground, shields the backline.
While Napoli do have midfield options on paper, replacing Anguissa’s blend of strength, positioning and experience is not a straightforward swap.
Italian outlets and national media have highlighted how the injury came during a tough training session with Cameroon, the same session that produced other knocks for the national team.
For Cameroon, Anguissa’s absence is also huge. He is one of their most reliable midfielders and his physical style fits big, knockout competitions, which explains why national team staff and fans reacted quickly to the news.
Missing him will force tactical changes for Cameroon as they prepare for continental duty.
Kevin De Bruyne’s injury reads like something from a worst-case list for Napoli. Scans revealed a high-grade lesion to the biceps femoris in his right thigh after he felt the pain on the pitch while taking a penalty.
The club later confirmed he had surgery and that he will begin rehabilitation in Belgium.
At the time of the reports, Napoli did not give a precise return date, but the tone from the medical updates and media coverage made clear this is not a short layoff, we are talking months, not weeks.
De Bruyne is the creative engine in midfield. He supplies key passes, set-play magic and the calm to control tight games.
Losing his vision and pass timing forces a change in how Napoli build attacks. Players who are comfortable with physical battles may still cover the midfield, but reproducing De Bruyne’s ball-progression and final pass is difficult.
The rehabilitation and return of a creative midfielder is also delicate — rush him back and the risk of re-injury rises; take time and the team must manage without his influence for an extended run of matches.
Napoli confirmed that the injury was significant and that he could be out for several weeks or months. The nature of the injury led the club to consider surgery and then to manage his recovery carefully.
Lukaku has been a central figure in Napoli’s attack plans, so his absence forces the coach to find alternatives up front and to change how the team attacks the box.
Without him, Napoli must either switch to a more mobile forward line or rely on mid-season additions to fill that physical striker role.
Napoli’s response to these injuries has been practical and immediate. Reports say the club have been in contact with other teams and agents to move quickly in the transfer market.
Fabricio Romano and other transfer insiders noted Napoli opened talks for possible forwards and midfield cover not long after the news of the injuries broke.
The club have looked at both short-term loans and longer signings to steady the squad while injured stars recover.
From a manager’s point of view, Antonio Conte is no stranger to adapting when key players are missing.
But the combination of losing a defensive-minded midfielder, a world-class creative maker and a main striker at the same time is rare.
Conte has options: move to a different midfield shape that uses two industrious players instead of one destroyer; push attacking midfielders closer to goal; or sign a striker to give the team a physical presence.
Clubs with injury-hit squads have two routes: buy now or wait until the January window and patch with loans.
Napoli’s reputation and financial position means they can both scout the market and move quickly when a player fits their profile.
Given the timeline of these injuries, some lasting months, bringing in at least one experienced player for the winter window looks likely.
Romano and other transfer insiders have already linked Napoli with multiple targets as the club weigh their options.
For fans, the immediate hours after an injury can feel bleak. But football is cyclical, bodies heal, squads adapt and, over a season, teams often find ways to cope.
Napoli’s challenge now is to balance recovery with results, and to use the market wisely if needed. If they manage both, the team’s long-term ambitions stay intact; if not, the next few months could be tricky.