Paolo Cannavaro has once more reflected on ending his Napoli career before he wanted to, and on the current crisis at the club.
Now at Sassuolo, the veteran centre-back came up against the Vesuviani last Sunday, following a difficult exit from the club last season when he fell out of favour under Rafa Benitez.
“My dream was to end my career at Napoli but it was not possible,” Cannavaro has told Il Mattino today.
Paolo Cannavaro has once more reflected on ending his Napoli career before he wanted to, and on the current crisis at the club.
Now at Sassuolo, the veteran centre-back came up against the Vesuviani last Sunday, following a difficult exit from the club last season when he fell out of favour under Rafa Benitez.
“My dream was to end my career at Napoli but it was not possible,” Cannavaro has told Il Mattino today.
“It was like leaving home again, as a child when I went to Parma. Napoli is my team, that shirt is my skin, I cannot deal with them as if they are an opponent.
“I am sick at the thought that in five months I will have to return to the San Paolo. I hope Fabio is there to help me out.”
Cannavaro was asked about the club’s difficulties suffered this season on the pitch.
“I believe that the problem lies elsewhere, in that I am saying Napoli is sick, Napoli is seriously ill. There is too much unrest around, too many long faces – the team feel it as they are not living on the moon.
“We must not give up on the players and see it as the end after just a few days of the season. The team is shooting 30 times a game – it means they are doing well.
“The wound from Athletic Bilbao is still open. There is disappointment in not being able to make the Champions League, the humiliation of playing on a Thursday thinking that the real show was staged the night before. It is torture.
“To come out of this it takes winning. It is not enough for Benitez to talk or for proclamations from the club. The players have to win, to return enthusiasm to the San Paolo.”
Cannavaro was asked how similar this Napoli is to the one he was playing in regularly.
“Is there little the same? That’s not true. There is Callejon, who is a golden boy, then there’s Insigne, Maggio, Britos, but also there are a lot of new faces, perhaps too many.
“We came second two years ago. I wonder – Cannavaro can go, but is there a need to change everyone?
“The groups that win change two or three players each season. Instead, Napoli have deleted a group that had achieved fantastic results.”
For the 33-year-old, though, the Scudetto isn’t out of reach yet.
“If you look at last year’s table, it is an impossible challenge. But Napoli are a team of champions, with experience and history.
“The European disappointment will be put aside quickly, without any kickback. You will see, I know them well.”
The former Parma man was asked of the state of his relationship with Benitez and President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
“I do not have one with either. The story has come to an end and eventually everything is accepted. You can wonder why, but after so many times when you do not find an answer, you decide that it is a case not worth considering any more.
“I spoke to Benitez on Sunday for a few minutes, I told him that we have to win the Scudetto. He smiled.
“He is a good one and we do not have to give up. We must always believe in the work and the convictions, particularly in the difficult moments.
“What have I never been able to say to Rafa? What I had to do to be given a real chance to prove my worth. Those that I had were not.
“Am I disappointed with De Laurentiis? No, the question is not right, there is no disappointment.
“I am a sportsman and I accept these things. I owe so much to him and thank him again.”