Dries Mertens has become a father and, as hinted, he has named his child Ciro, the very Neapolitan nickname that he was given by fans and teammates.
The Belgium international and his wife, television presenter Kat Kerkhofs, welcomed the little boy today in Naples.
He posted a picture on Instagram of the moment the happy couple welcomed their first child into the world and confirmed his name: Ciro Romeo Mertens.
It’s a very special name, because for years Dries Mertens has been nicknamed Ciro in Naples.
This is the most Neapolitan of names, rarely found outside of the city, and was used to show how perfectly embedded in the lifestyle and culture he had become.
By naming his first-born son Ciro, Dries and Kat confirm their absolute love for the city and its people.
They might not be there for long, because it’s widely reported Napoli will not take up their option to renew his contract, which currently expires on June 30.
Mertens is Napoli’s all-time top scorer and has said many times he would love to remain, but the club and President Aurelio De Laurentiis have other ideas.
View this post on Instagram
Long life, 101 years for little Ciro. 🙂
ADL, vergogna!
Have you signed him up to the academy yet 😀
Actually, he once went to play bowling in Naples, and he wanted no one to bother him so instead of Dries, he made the guy write Ciro on the screen. Someone of course recognized him, and this meme started. But as you said, if it wasn’t for him being so attached to the city and ita population, he would’ve chosen an other name