Scott McTominay and Noa Lang are expected to be among the first World Cup players back in training. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are due to return on 5 August, according to the report.
That staggered schedule gives Allegri an immediate practical challenge. His opening sessions will focus on the players already present, while key figures continue their recovery and transition from international duty.
The report says Napoli had five players at the tournament:
The timing also affects the first assessments of Lukaku and De Bruyne. Both are arriving later than McTominay and Lang, leaving Allegri with less initial training time to evaluate their condition, roles and suitability to his plans.
The report says Allegri resisted judging either player before working with them, telling reporters: “Until I see and coach players, making judgements from outside is always very difficult.”
That stance fits the situation. A new coach inherits opinions, reputations and last season’s narratives, but Allegri will need direct evidence from training before deciding how his senior players fit into Napoli’s next phase.
Starting with an incomplete squad is normal after a major international tournament, but it can still shape a manager’s early work. The players who return first will receive the earliest tactical instruction and could gain an advantage in the initial competition for roles.
Allegri’s immediate message is reportedly straightforward: Napoli will begin with whoever is available rather than wait for the entire group.
The next storyline will come when Lukaku and De Bruyne join the squad on 5 August. Their first sessions under Allegri should provide the clearest indication of how the new coach intends to use them.