Marek Hamsik insists he “couldn’t care less” about beating Diego Maradona’s record, but has no regrets at dedicating his career to Napoli.
The Partenopei visit Torino today at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Their captain has been on the verge of matching Maradona’s all-time club record of 115 goals for several months, but found the net only once this season.
Marek Hamsik insists he “couldn’t care less” about beating Diego Maradona’s record, but has no regrets at dedicating his career to Napoli.
The Partenopei visit Torino today at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Their captain has been on the verge of matching Maradona’s all-time club record of 115 goals for several months, but found the net only once this season.
It has been reported the pressure of getting past his current tally of 114 in all competition is affecting his performances.
“I couldn’t care less about not scoring regularly,” Hamsik told La Repubblica newspaper.
“Before, I would score more often and the team didn’t win, now the opposite is happening and I am therefore the happiest player in the world.
“Maradona’s record doesn’t weigh on me: if it arrives against Torino today, that is an extra satisfaction, but nothing more. It’s not as if I could ever overcome Diego, as he came from another planet.
“I look back at my career path and I am proud, as not many people can tie themselves to the same team for life, especially in modern football. In my case, it was simple: Napoli is the right place for me and I wanted it to remain that way for an indeterminate length of time.
“I never had any regrets, as I made my choice and am going through the career that I wanted and built for myself. I did it with pride. Light blue was the colour of my first club, Slovan Bratislava, of the Slovak national team and also of Napoli. It was destiny.
“This jersey has become my second skin, it gratifies me to be considered a symbol. My mission will only be accomplished when we win the Scudetto. That has to be the finishing line for my long story with Napoli. Then I can turn the page and dedicate some time to my football school, which I already opened in Slovakia.
“I think there are many ways to be a leader, and I try by setting the example to my teammates, on the field and off it. Maurizio Sarri can bang his fists on the table in our locker room, so I’m not needed for that.
“The best memory was the first Coppa Italia victory, as it had been so many years that the fans were waiting for Napoli to win a trophy.
“The worst memory was at the Stadio Olimpico, with the tragedy of Ciro Esposito. We went out there and won it for him, but without a smile. Nobody wanted to celebrate.”
The incident occurred before kick-off ahead of the victory over Fiorentina, when Napoli fan Esposito was walking to the stadium and was shot by a Roma ultra during a brawl.