Marek Hamsik wants the Scudetto and laughed off speculation. “Even the rocks know I am happy at Napoli!”
The midfielder spoke to the Corriere dello Sport ahead of their trip to Cesena. It kicks off on Tuesday at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“We’ve won three trophies in two years, something Napoli hadn’t managed for decades,” he beamed after beating Juventus in the Italian Super Cup on penalties.
Marek Hamsik wants the Scudetto and laughed off speculation. “Even the rocks know I am happy at Napoli!”
The midfielder spoke to the Corriere dello Sport ahead of their trip to Cesena. It kicks off on Tuesday at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“We’ve won three trophies in two years, something Napoli hadn’t managed for decades,” he beamed after beating Juventus in the Italian Super Cup on penalties.
“These are big reasons to be satisfied and within ourselves we always feel the desire to improve. Of course it goes without saying that our real desire is the Scudetto, but it seems a long way off this year. Juventus and Roma are deservedly up there. Mind you, I have a whole career ahead of me.”
It has been reported Hamsik was looking for a way out of the Stadio San Paolo, as Liverpool and Manchester United showed interest in the Slovak international.
“When my current contract expires, I will be 31 years old. My head is here and not elsewhere. I think it would be wonderful to win the Scudetto with Napoli, but it’s also great to keep lifting other trophies here and we’re in the running for the Europa League.
“I have little more to add to what I’ve already said: I am happy here and think I’ve said it so many times that even the rocks know I am happy at Napoli! So until 2018 I am focused on Napoli and nothing else.
“The fact we have won three trophies in two years after the club came from bankruptcy is a sign of how consistent the De Laurentiis project is. I am honoured to represent that.
“I know Napoli’s history and I’m more and more eager to become a part of it. I know how many caps I’ve got for the club and right now I’d be very proud to target 100 goals with this jersey. Hitting a Century of goals would give further lustre to my life choice of being with Napoli.”
Hamsik joined the Partenopei from Brescia in July 2007, so now begins his eighth year at the club.
“I look back at the pictures and I don’t seem to have changed much, but I am another person inside. I became a man here. I arrived as a kid and am now married with two children. I also know that I can do better and intend to get there.
“I am very self-critical, but even I liked my performance against Juventus in Doha. It was a great night. Juve are the team to beat, the rival that all the fans are fired up against. In seven days it’ll be a whole new game and we start from 0-0.”
Asked about his future, Hamsik plans a return to Slovakia and a new career path.
“I’ll return home and start coaching. I learned so much in Italy, above all in terms of tactics, and want to put that teaching into practice. I’m in no rush, though.
“My immediate plans are to qualify for the Champions League, score 100 goals for the Partenopei and finally to quit football only after winning the Scudetto with the Napoli jersey.”