Dries Mertens will reportedly not be back in action before October, in what could be his last season with Napoli ahead of a possible move to MLS.
The Belgian forward is recovering from a shoulder surgery and Il Mattino reports he has not started the rehabilitation.
Inter Miami have reportedly approached the Napoli striker to offer him a different experience in America, but the newspaper believes he will not be back on the pitch before October.
He will thus miss the first two months of Serie A 2021-22 and Mertens is reportedly planning to spend another year with the Azzurri.
Il Mattino reveals Mertens has told the American intermediaries that he will stay at Stadio Diego Maradona in 2021-22 before moving to USA.
The 34-year-old’s contract expires next summer, but the two parties have an option to extend for a further year and prolong his stint with the Azzurri.
Mertens arrived from PSV Eindhoven in July 2013 and has since appeared in 360 competitive games with Napoli, scoring 135 goals and contributing 87 assists.