After signing the contract extension, Dries Mertens released a video that is a love letter to Napoli and the city of Naples. “I feel sorry for those who aren’t in love with Naples, because they’ve never seen it as I have.”
The Belgian had seemed ready to walk away this summer, with far more lucrative deals on the table from Inter, Chelsea and Manchester United.
After signing the contract extension, Dries Mertens released a video that is a love letter to Napoli and the city of Naples. “I feel sorry for those who aren’t in love with Naples, because they’ve never seen it as I have.”
The Belgian had seemed ready to walk away this summer, with far more lucrative deals on the table from Inter, Chelsea and Manchester United.
However, he opted to continue his adventure with the Partenopei, having been adopted by the locals and given the most Neapolitan of nicknames, Ciro.
On his social media profiles, Mertens released a video that represents a love letter to the club and above all the people of Naples.
“Napoli, I actually still can’t believe it,” he said. “From the first day I arrived, you embraced me. You taught me so many wonderful things and introduced me to so many beautiful people.
“You were ‘home’ straight away for me and my family. The least I could do to repay you in this beautiful blue shirt, was to score goals. A lot of goals. So many goals!”
In last week’s Coppa Italia semi-final, Mertens scored his 122nd goal in the Napoli shirt, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer ahead of Marek Hamsik.
He could take them to silverware this evening, playing Juventus in the Coppa Italia Final.
“I feel sorry for people who aren’t in love with Naples, because they have simply never seen it as I have. And the people who love it, like me, know that love is eternal.
“I’ll give my all for you until the last day, to stay in the history of this club and this city, as the all-time top scorer. Me, all-time top scorer. Who’d have said that when I first signed for Napoli?
“But it doesn’t end here. Our story continues. Love, Dries Ciro Mertens.”
The story continues… @sscnapoli pic.twitter.com/mRl3wbUvLr
— Dries Mertens (@dries_mertens14) June 17, 2020