That Noa Lang has not yet made a big impression at Napoli has not gone unnoticed by Ruud Krol either. The Dutchman has had a tough time during the first half of the season, but in time he will simply find his rhythm, Krol believes. The Napoli club icon “knows what Lang is capable of”.
Noa Lang’s move to Napoli has not unfolded as smoothly as he would have pictured when he left PSV for Italy last summer.
The winger arrived with the expectation of making an immediate impact at one of Serie A’s biggest clubs, but his first months in Naples have been defined more by patience than prominence. Despite featuring in twenty matches, Lang has largely been used as a rotation option rather than a guaranteed starter, and his output has reflected that limited rhythm. With only one goal in seven hundred and ten minutes, he has not yet delivered the kind of numbers that typically help an attacker cement a key role in a title-chasing side.
That slow start has not gone unnoticed, including by Ruud Krol, one of Napoli’s most respected former players and a figure whose opinion carries weight among supporters. Krol has acknowledged that Lang has not made a major impression so far, but he is also convinced the player will settle and begin to show why Napoli wanted him in the first place. In his view, the early struggles are less about a lack of talent and more about the standard adaptation issues that come with switching leagues, systems and expectations. The jump from the Eredivisie to Serie A is often a demanding one for attackers, especially wide players who thrive on space and transitions, because Italian defences tend to be compact, tactically disciplined and very quick to close down passing lanes.
Krol’s optimism is rooted in familiarity. He has watched Lang closely since his Ajax days and followed his development at PSV, so he does not see the current situation as a true reflection of the winger’s level. His assessment is straightforward: Napoli have not yet seen the real Lang, but they will, once he properly adjusts to the tempo, the tactical detail and the physical demands of the league. From Krol’s perspective, the key will be consistency in minutes and clarity in role, because players like Lang often need a run of games to build confidence and sharpen decision-making in the final third.
There are also contextual factors that can slow a player’s integration at a club like Napoli. The pressure is immediate, the environment is intense, and expectations are shaped by the club’s status as reigning champions. Even a talented signing can find himself behind established options or competing with teammates who already understand the manager’s ideas. When a winger is used in shorter bursts, he is often expected to change matches quickly, which can lead to forcing actions, taking low-percentage risks, or playing within himself to avoid mistakes. Either way, it becomes harder to find the balance between creativity and efficiency.
Krol believes that, once Lang finds that balance, he can be a decisive weapon. He describes him as a player with a natural feel for goal and the ability to contribute with assists, the type of attacker who can swing tight matches with a moment of quality. Lang’s profile fits the modern winger Napoli often value: someone who can carry the ball, isolate full-backs in one-on-ones, and create end product, whether by cutting inside to shoot or combining to open lanes for teammates. If the adaptation comes, those traits can translate well in Serie A, where many games are decided by small margins and individual creativity is at a premium.
In the same conversation, Krol also singled out another former Ajax player at Napoli, David Neres, who has enjoyed a much stronger first half of the season. While Lang is still searching for consistency, Neres has been delivering direct contributions, with six goals and four assists in the first months of the campaign. Krol’s admiration for the Brazilian is clear: he calls Neres a joy to watch and highlights how clean and complete his technical ability looks within Napoli’s structure. For Krol, Neres is not only producing numbers, but also passing the eye test as someone who brings excitement and control in the attacking phase.
One moment in particular stood out for Krol: Neres’ goal against Bologna in the Supercoppa. He described it as outright fantastic, pointing to the kind of technique that separates top-level attackers, especially in high-pressure situations. That sort of praise underlines why Neres has quickly become a fan favourite, and it also sets a benchmark for Lang, because both players operate in similar zones and can be competing for minutes depending on Napoli’s tactical approach.
For Lang, the second half of the season represents an opportunity to reset. If he can earn a more stable role, improve his match sharpness and start producing decisive actions, the narrative can shift quickly. Serie A seasons are long, and Napoli’s schedule typically demands rotation across domestic and cup competitions. That creates openings for a player who is willing to work through the adaptation period and stay ready. Krol’s message is essentially that patience is justified: the talent is not in doubt, and the expectation is that Lang will grow into the league and eventually show the level he displayed in the Netherlands.
In short, the early months may not have gone as planned, but Krol’s confidence suggests Napoli should not write the signing off. He sees a player who still needs to find his footing, not one who has reached his ceiling. And with teammates like Neres already thriving, Napoli’s attacking unit has the kind of internal competition that can push a talented winger to raise his game quickly if he embraces the challenge.
Updated: 03:12, 28 Dec 2025
