Napoli midfielder Michael Folorunsho watched from the periphery as Massimiliano Allegri's side fell 1-2 at home to Como in their second Serie A match of the 2026-27 season, a defeat that left the Partenopei sitting eleventh in the table with three points from two games.
The result matters for Folorunsho precisely because it sharpens the competition for places. Allegri acknowledged after the match that his side were "too soft" defensively, and that there is clear work to be done. For a midfielder rated at 62 out of 100 by AI assessment, the margin for error in earning and keeping a starting role is narrow. One appearance, a rating of 5.94, and no goals or assists from that single outing: Folorunsho's 2026-27 account is thin, and a manager publicly demanding more physical and defensive commitment will not be patient with contributors who fail to impose themselves.
Allegri has also been candid about the differences between his own approach and that of his predecessor Antonio Conte, signalling that this is a squad in philosophical transition. That kind of reset can open doors for players who adapt quickly, but it can just as easily close them for those who do not fit the new tactical grammar. Folorunsho, at 28, is at the age where a season spent largely on the bench carries real cost — not in development potential, but in competitive currency.
The Como defeat was built on defensive errors, and Allegri singled out the collective softness of his unit rather than any individual. Scott McTominay was mentioned specifically in the post-match assessment, which tells its own story about where the manager's attention is focused in midfield. Folorunsho's path back into the XI likely runs through exactly the qualities Allegri is demanding: defensive discipline, physicality, and the willingness to do unglamorous work in transition.
Napoli host the rest of the early-season schedule carrying a goal difference of plus one — three scored, two conceded — which is not a crisis, but the home loss to Como creates pressure that filters down to every squad member. Allegri has signalled he will make changes. Whether Folorunsho is the answer to any of the questions the manager is asking is the only thing worth watching.