No turning back for Napoli after Serie A surge

Edinson Cavani reacts after scoring a goal for Napoli in Serie A this season. The Uruguay striker is likely to move in this summer’s transfer market.

There were mixed feelings at the San Paolo stadium at the end of Napoli’s 2-1 win over relegated Siena on Sunday.

The good news was that Napoli had come from 0-1 down to record their 23rd success of the season and consolidate the runners-up spot in Serie A.

However, that position, which means a direct entry to the Cham-pions League group stages, was largely overshadowed by fears of the fixture being the last home game in charge for coach Walter Mazzarri and chief goal-getter Edinson Cavani.

Overall, Napoli-Siena was an entertaining match.

The visitors did their part and even though they were already condemned to Serie B football next season, they gave their all.

Perhaps, Siena’s spirited display even merited a draw. But, in the end, Giuseppe Iachini’s men were punished by substitute Marek Hamsik’s winning goal, deep into stoppage time.

This was Napoli’s 14th home win of the season.

Bologna were the only team to claim all points at stake from their visit to Naples on the 17th day of the season. Four other teams – Torino, Milan, Sampdoria and Juventus – left the San Paolo with a point.

This has been a truly remarkable season for Napoli despite the fact that they had to do without influential playmaker Ezequiel Lavezzi, who joined Paris SG last summer in a multi-million euro transfer deal.

Mazzarri’s side were virtually Juve’s only challengers for the scudetto.

Unlike the Bianconeri, however, Napoli failed to adapt themselves to the challenges in key matches despite reserving all their energies to the Serie A after an early exit from the Europa League.

Off the field of play Napoli, declared bankrupt in summer 2004, did even better. In fact, one has to acknowledge that new owner, film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, did a great job in reviving the fortunes of this club.

De Laurentiis has meticulously built a club virtually from its foundations and, without breaking the bank, he also succeeded in assembling a competitive squad.

Last season, Napoli did well in the Champions League before bowing out to eventual winners Chelsea in the Last 16 stage. They finished fifth in Serie A but went on to lift the 2012 Coppa Italia after a 25-year absence.

This season, Napoli focused mostly on the Serie A.

They did pretty well in the domestic league but the future seems to pose a bigger challenge, especially if Mazzarri and Cavani decide to go elsewhere.

The Uruguayan forward, scorer of 28 goals in Serie A this season, is hunted by several high-profile clubs including Real Madrid.

Cavani has been one of Napoli’s top performers since joining from Palermo in 2010.

Mazzarri, who took over from Roberto Donadoni in October 2009, has taken Napoli as far as he could. Now, it seems that the ex-Sampdoria mentor is harbouring aspirations to coach another ambitious club and has lately been linked with Roma.

But, De Laurentiis would look weak in the eyes of the demanding Napoli supporters if he lets Mazzarri or Cavani leave.

Their exits could also trigger a sudden halt to Napoli’s surge in Serie A and a reverse in their fortunes, something very similar to what happened at Inter when Jose Mourinho left for Real Madrid after completing an incredible treble in 2010.

But De Laurentiis is no longer a new man on the block and his shrewd way of running the club amply testifies that Napoli won’t slide back to oblivion with him still at the helm.

If Cavani goes, the club will become €60 million richer, money they would spend on new signings and, perhaps, convince Mazzarri to prolong his stay down south.

That would be the ideal starting point for De Laurentiis to the new season.

The stakes have now become too high for Napoli to fail and throw away all the good work achieved in the past few years.