Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani explains his struggles to settle in at the Stadio Maradona and claims ‘everybody would talk about me if I were Italian.’
The 27-year-old joined the Partenopei in 2020 in a €14m move from Hellas Verona. However, he only became a regular starter this season after struggling with playing time under Gennaro Gattuso last term.
“I knew it was not easy to settle in a top club. I arrived from Verona, who play with a different style. They use a three-man defence and man-to-man marking,” he told Il Roma newspaper.
“I was aware of my qualities and I showed the results when I started playing consistently. Now it’s the time to reap the rewards of my work.
“I always say that if I were Italian, everybody would talk about me, apparently my national team is not as famous in footballing terms,” said the Kosovo international.
“It means I have to put in even more efforts to emerge.”
Can Napoli win the Serie A title this season and could he replace Kalidou Koulibaly if the Senegal international leaves at the end of the season?
“I’m superstitious, so I don’t want to say that word [Scudetto]. It would be a dream. We always play to win. Hopefully, something nice will happen, but we can’t know now.
“Koulibaly is a leader and it would be a huge responsibility [to replace him]. Should it happen, there would be no problems. When you grow you have more responsibility, I am ready and it would be a privilege for me.”
He is 100% right. Market value is regrettably dictated by nationality. We see this all the time. I suppose its because they’re not as marketable as let’s say a french, brazilian, or argentine player. Look at Salah. Somehow cost Liverpool only 40 million. If Salah was English, he’d have been beatified by now.
Still. You’re playing for a top club in Napoli. That should be recognition enough. Stay humble, and the rewards will come.
Rubbish, the centre back next to
Him Koudabaly he’s not Italian and everyone was talking about how amazing he is!
@Daniele
Koulibaly has French nationality.
@FDB.
He was born in France. He wouldn’t have to take up the non eu quota, so it adds to his value.
Rrahmani i a great CB and seems like a nice guy too, wish him the best!