Ghanaian full-back Tariq Lamptey has set his sights on cementing a starting role at Fiorentina after making his Serie A bow in a tough 3-1 defeat to defending champions SSC Napoli at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The 24-year-old, who swapped Brighton and Hove Albion for Florence during the summer window, came off the bench in the second half as Vincenzo Italiano’s men chased a way back into the game. He was introduced moments after Luca Ranieri halved the deficit, replacing youngster Pietro Comuzzo to inject pace and energy down the flank.
Napoli, however, had already done the damage earlier. Kevin De Bruyne, newly arrived from Manchester City, put the visitors ahead from the spot inside six minutes. Rasmus Højlund, on loan from Manchester United, opened his account with a sharp finish eight minutes later, before Sam Beukema added a third shortly after the restart. Fiorentina’s late surge, buoyed by the introduction of Lamptey, could not break down Antonio Conte’s resolute backline.
La prima in Viola 💜⚜️#forzaviola #fiorentina pic.twitter.com/lK5X2pLj0U
— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) September 15, 2025
Speaking exclusively to Footy-Africa, Lamptey admitted he was delighted to finally pull on the famous purple shirt, but stressed that this is only the beginning:
“For me, this is a fresh chapter and I want to give everything to Fiorentina. The fans here are passionate, the team has ambition, and I believe I can grow as a player in this environment. I just need to keep working, push myself in training, and show the coach that I’m ready for more minutes.”
The former Chelsea academy graduate also opened up about his international ambitions, making it clear that his sights are set firmly on Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
“Every time I wear the Ghana shirt, it means the world to me. The World Cup is around the corner and I know competition for places will be very tough. That’s why playing regularly here at Fiorentina is so important, I want to be sharp, I want to be consistent, and I want to give myself the best chance of being part of the squad in 2026.”
Related article: Fiorentina signs Lamptey on a permanent deal
