Allegri Explains De Bruyne Misunderstanding, Hints at Hojlund Benching for Venezia Clash

FolioPitch.com – 16 October 2026 | Massimiliano Allegri has moved to defuse the controversy surrounding his touchline spat with Kevin De Bruyne, while also hinting that Rasmus Hojlund could be rested for Napoli’s Serie A trip to Venezia on Sunday. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Allegri explains De Bruyne misunderstanding hints at Hojlund benching as he addressed the media ahead of a crucial league fixture.

The incident occurred during Napoli’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Villarreal on Tuesday, a match that saw the Partenopei surrender a 1-0 lead and ultimately fall to a disappointing loss. Allegri and De Bruyne were seen engaged in a heated exchange, with the Belgian appearing frustrated at being deployed in a deep-lying playmaker role. However, the Napoli boss was quick to downplay the incident, describing it as a momentary lapse in communication.

“No, absolutely not. It was a misunderstanding during a particularly difficult moment in the match because we went from leading 1–0 to trailing 2–1, but it ended there,” Allegri said. “These things happen and will happen again. Of course, it’s better if we understand each other immediately. Either I speak English, or he speaks Italian.”

Allegri explains De Bruyne misunderstanding hints at Hojlund benching as he also turned his attention to the attacking department, where Rasmus Hojlund has started every Napoli game so far this season. The Denmark international, who joined from Manchester United, has been a regular fixture in the starting XI but may be due for a breather.

“We’ll train today, then I’ll decide whether Lucca or Hojlund will play,” Allegri said. “Hojlund has played a lot of matches and needs some rest, or perhaps to come off the bench. Lucca also did well when he came on in Spain. He had a couple of promising situations; he took a shot in one of them but it was blocked, and his movement was good.”

Lorenzo Lucca’s impressive cameo against Villarreal has given Allegri a viable alternative, and the coach appears to be leaning towards giving the Italian striker a rare start. Such a decision would allow Hojlund to recharge, especially with a congested fixture list ahead.

Napoli’s opponents on Sunday, Venezia, are currently rooted to the bottom of the Serie A table with zero points from six matches. The match will mark Davide Nicola’s debut as Venezia coach, following his appointment earlier this week to replace Giovanni Stroppa after a run of six consecutive league defeats.

“Nicola is a coach who has done well. He achieved an unthinkable escape from relegation at Crotone, among other accomplishments,” Allegri noted. “He is an excellent coach and is managing a team with no points in the table, but they have important qualities because they create a lot of chances. I watched their match in Bergamo and looked at the data, they did well.”

Despite Venezia’s struggles, Allegri is wary of the threat they pose, particularly with a new coach at the helm. The Partenopei have been inconsistent this season, losing both Champions League matches and earning just ten points from six Serie A outings. Allegri, however, remains unconcerned.

“I’m not concerned; we need to find solutions to the problems,” he insisted. “We need to manage the ball better at certain points in the match and then deal better with unexpected incidents, such as Politano’s misplaced pass, which can happen. When a team is strong, even during difficult moments, and there are opponents to consider too, your world cannot fall apart. Once that moment has passed, we still have plenty of time to improve.”

Allegri explains De Bruyne misunderstanding hints at Hojlund benching as he also provided an update on his squad’s fitness. “Anguissa, Olivera and Alisson will be available. Unfortunately, we have lost Neres again, as he has been struggling with these injuries, but Vergara and Favasuli are progressing well. They are not close to returning yet, but they are making progress. We also have McTominay and others who need to regain fitness by playing, because a match is completely different.”

Napoli have already dropped points from winning positions three times this season, a statistic that underscores their fragility. Allegri, though, dismissed the notion that the sky is falling.

“It doesn’t mean everything is a disaster, just as everything isn’t perfect when you win,” he said. “That’s not how it works. I understand your perspective and that the result shapes opinion, but that brings us back to the usual discussion: if the result determines the opinion, then the result is the most important thing, whether you have played better or worse. But we are still at the beginning.”

As Napoli prepare for the trip to Venice, Allegri’s man-management skills will be tested. The De Bruyne misunderstanding appears resolved, but the tactical balance of the midfield remains a talking point. Meanwhile, the potential benching of Hojlund signals that Allegri is not afraid to rotate his squad in search of consistency.

In conclusion, Allegri explains De Bruyne misunderstanding hints at Hojlund benching as he navigates a challenging period for Napoli. With Venezia desperate for points under new coach Davide Nicola, the Partenopei cannot afford to take their opponents lightly. Allegri’s decisions on Sunday will reveal much about his strategy for the coming weeks, as Napoli aim to climb the Serie A table and reignite their Champions League campaign.