Former Napoli forward Dries Mertens joked that his former club might have celebrated their title success too much, but Antonio Conte will help them return to winning ways. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Belgian international shared his thoughts on his former side, and revealed he plans to return to Naples when he retires:
Mertens, weren’t you supposed to stop playing football?
“Yes. In fact, now I don’t commit myself anymore. I don’t know if the one that’s about to start will be my last season: we’ll see later. I’ve found a club that makes me feel important and surrounds me with strong players. And then in Istanbul you live well. The city is very big, cit’s a nice experience”.
After retirement, however, you will return to Naples…
“I want to live there. I miss my home, as well as many aspects of my old life. I used to go out without a car, walk in the center and have dinner among people. It was my dimension”.
Today do you feel Belgian or Neapolitan?
“My wife often asks me this. When I return to Belgium, as well as in Istanbul, I walk around the streets and feel Neapolitan. It was love at first sight, with dinner at Marechiaro right after signing the contract. I’m also trying to raise Ciro, my son, as a true Neapolitan. Slowly he will learn”.
Speaking of Ciro: in Istanbul you will soon meet Immobile, who has moved to Besiktas.
“Yes, I’ve already called him. I explained to him that in Turkey there is only one Ciro and that he will have to get in line… Jokes aside, I’m happy. He’s another great striker who chooses the Super Lig. I pair up with Icardi, I get along well. One thinks about assists, the other about goals. The two of us in Serie A? No, we’ve already done our part…”
Could you have returned to Serie A as Conte’s collaborator?
“No, we never talked about it. However, I heard from Conte and he made a good impression on me. He’s a good person and a great coach, he has charisma, he’s the right man at the right time. For Naples players there will be a lot of pedaling, but that’s okay. The absence from European cups is an advantage only if you work hard during the week. And with Conte it will be like that”.
What didn’t work in Naples in the last season?
“I don’t know, maybe they celebrated too much after the Scudetto (laughs, ed.). In that case, it would be understandable: such an event arouses enthusiasm, but you need to know how to manage it. When I left, I felt that something important could happen. After years of Juve’s dominance, in Italy there was no longer a league-killer. And Naples was strong”.
Is there regret for not having participated in that triumph?
“I participated as a… fan, and it was still beautiful. Of course I would have liked to be there, but today I see that Scudetto as the result of a great multi-year journey. And I was part of it”.
If you look back today, what is your most beautiful memory?
“I have many, but the first thing that comes to mind is the match against Lazio during my last year in Serie A. It had been a while since, due to Osimhen’s exploit, I rightly no longer played as the first striker. Victor was unavailable, I took his place and scored two amazing goals against Sarri and Reina. It was a special moment”.
After the expiration of the contract with the Azzurri, were you close to Sarri’s Lazio, who had been your coach from 2015 to 2018?
“No. I wasn’t interested, because after so many years with Naples I didn’t want to play for another Serie A club. I preferred to move abroad and I chose Galatasaray for this reason. If I had stayed in Italy, I would have gone to Salernitana… so I could continue living in Naples”.
With Osimhen increasingly close to leaving, Kvaratskhelia is the real star of the Azzurri. Do you like him?
“Who doesn’t like him? People go to the stadium to see those like him. He invents breathtaking plays, he’s spectacular. The 2023 Scudetto is largely due to him”.
Today who do you see as favorite for the Scudetto?
“Inter has something more than the others. In my opinion they will win again”.
Naples could try to close the gap by acquiring Lukaku. You know he’s Conte’s protégé?
“Romelu is a great friend and an excellent footballer. Seeing him in Naples would make me very happy, because with him you can aim to win. If he asked me for help to find a house? No, I don’t think he needs help…”
Are you already thinking about what to do after retirement?
“Football is my life, but I don’t see myself as a coach. Some time ago I was surprised by a statistic: six out of ten footballers fail just five years after they stop playing. I would like to help athletes better manage their savings, giving advice on investments and their financial choices”
