Di Natale: “Why Didn’t I Ever Play For Napoli? Because They Didn’t Want Me…”

Prolific Italian goalscorer Antonio Di Natale shared his thoughts on his career, his love for Napoli, and his experiences in football. Born in the Tribunali district of Naples, Di Natale’s family moved to Pomigliano after an earthquake.

Di Natale’s journey in football began when he left Naples at the age of 14 for Empoli. “I took the train to Empoli alone. Times were tough then. My father was a carpenter, with four sons and a daughter. When I wasn’t in school, dad took me to the construction site with him. I worked as a bricklayer, carrying buckets and painting. It wasn’t for me. The only way out was football,” he recalled.

Despite his success, Di Natale never played for Napoli. “I think I played against them seven or eight times. I’m such a fan, and my brothers were in Naples, it pained me… Joking aside, I scored nine goals against them, six in two matches. Why didn’t I ever play for Napoli? Because they didn’t want me,” he explained.

Di Natale’s loyalty to Udinese is well-known. When asked about almost joining Juventus, he said, “I told President Pozzo, who’s like a father to me: ‘I’m staying here forever, if you really want me to go to Juve, you’ll have to kick me out.'” He added, “Even Conte wanted me at Juve. ‘You go at a thousand miles an hour, I go slow, what would I do there?'”

Reflecting on his impressive goal-scoring record, Di Natale said, “Two hundred and nine in total. That’s not few. It bothers me a bit when I hear and read that this player is poor, that coach isn’t good. It takes just two good games and the judgment flips. Behind a goal or a victory, there’s a lot of work.”

Di Natale also shared his thoughts on the current Napoli team: “This year I’m enjoying it more, Conte is a phenomenon, he’s creating a masterpiece. He’s changed the team’s mindset, given them a winning mentality. They’re competing for the Scudetto with Inter. The last five games will be decisive, whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.”

When asked about his brief coaching experience, Di Natale was clear: “Definitively over, I have my own things to take care of. And they’re many and all in Udine. The retreats, the week busy with training… no, enough: I need to be at peace. I don’t want to. Eighteen years on the pitch is more than enough.”

Di Natale’s love for football and Napoli remains strong. He fondly remembered seeing Maradona play: “Live, I was moved.” Despite his illustrious career, Di Natale remains humble and appreciative of the sport that gave him so much.