Match-winner Andrea Petagna admits he ‘didn’t even expect to be here tonight’ for Napoli, but coach Luciano Spalletti hints that Sampdoria transfer might not go through.

The centre-forward came off the bench against Genoa with the result at 1-1 and within three minutes had scored the winner with a glancing header.

Serie A Genoa 1-2 Napoli: Partenopei ride their luck

“I couldn’t wait to get on that pitch,” Petagna told DAZN.

“I had some difficulties over the last month and a small injury, but I felt better and knew I’d score. The truth is, I didn’t even expect to be here tonight, a lot of things happened this week.”

The striker is reportedly on the verge of a move to Sampdoria, with Morten Thorsby perhaps coming the other way.

However, after the goal, coach Spalletti pointed to Petagna and said: ‘You are staying here.’

“The coach trusts me and said so again this week, my teammates also thought I would score this evening. With my physicality, it takes me a while to really get going and show what I can do.”

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