Napoli’s season of redemption reached its fairytale climax as a 2-0 win over Cagliari sealed their second Serie A title in three years and handed Antonio Conte a historic crown as the first manager to win the Scudetto with three different clubs.
In a season defined by defiance and transformation, it was fitting that Conte’s biggest summer signings delivered when it mattered most. Scott McTominay’s flying header and a solo masterclass from Romelu Lukaku sent Napoli surging past Cagliari and left Inter Milan’s simultaneous win over Como in vain.
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona erupted at full-time. Fans had packed the stadium and city piazzas long before kickoff, driven by belief and memories of past glory. Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo summed up the mood: “Everyone contributed to this, but the coach most of all. He’s phenomenal.”
Conte’s fourth Serie A triumph, after three combined with Juventus and Inter, might be his most remarkable. “This was the most unexpected, the most difficult, and the most stimulating,” said the 55-year-old, who watched nervously from the stands after serving a touchline ban.
Napoli’s rise comes just a season after they slumped to 10th, cycling through three coaches in a disastrous title defence. With Osimhen loaned to Galatasaray and Kvaratskhelia sold to PSG in January, expectations were modest. Instead, Conte forged a hardened unit led by Lukaku and McTominay, the league’s Player of the Season.
Even without European distractions and Coppa Italia success, Napoli’s dominance was earned. They won 15 of their last 18 league matches, built the best defence in Italy, and held their nerve as Inter applied late pressure.
Lukaku’s 14 goals and league-high 10 assists have been vital, but the collective grit shaped this title run. Napoli players held banners reading “Again” with a bold “4”, honouring the club’s fourth title and the late Maradona, whose legacy loomed large throughout the campaign.
While Napoli now look ahead to a Champions League return and summer reinforcements, Inter must regroup for their date with PSG in the Champions League final. Conte, meanwhile, has already carved another legacy, this time in sky blue.
