“Didn't see the ball for 28 days!” » Tensions build up in the locker room of the Serie A title candidate
Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Thursday, November 13, 2025 7:17 p.m. / Updated Thursday, November 13, 2025 7:43 p.m.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte (55) is accused of having a cold relationship with the dressing room and one of the disgruntled players is Noa Lang (26), who said that since his arrival at the club this summer, he has only spoken to Conte once.
The coach of the Dutch national team, Ronald Koeman (62 years old), intervened and further fueled the scandal surrounding the Italian technician.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman: “Lang told me he hadn't seen the ball in 28 days!”
Koeman recounted a discussion held in September with Noa Lang, the winger transferred in the summer by Napoli, for 25 million euros, from PSV Eindhoven.
“I spoke to Noa in September and asked him how he was doing in Italy. He answered me: «We have been in camp for 28 days and we still haven't seen the ball!»”, revealed Koeman, at the press conference before the match against Poland.
This confession confirmed reports in the Italian media that Conte imposes an extremely tough regime on his players, based on intense physical training and very little contact with the ball in the first weeks of training camp.
Napoli's players, increasingly dissatisfied with Conte
Several players in Napoli's squad are frustrated by Conte's training methods and lack of communication. The source notes that the technician does not even give them a clear weekly training schedule, according to Il Mattino.
Also, Lang has recently stated that since arriving at the club he has spoken to Conte only once:
“Every player wants to play. I don't know what else to do. I better not say anything”, said the Dutchman after the 2-6 humiliation at the hands of his former team, PSV.
Noa Lang has 11 matches and 0 offensive contributions in the Neapolitan shirt
Valued at 25 million euros according to the specialist website Transfermarkt, Noa Lang has so far ticked off 11 matches in the Neapolitan shirt, without a goal or assist.
In his career, the Dutchman has played for Feyenoord, Ajax, Twente, Club Brugge and PSV Eindhoven.
