Week after week, the reports from the Napoli board sounded less rosy: Dries Mertens and Napoli have not spoken the same language in recent months during the talks about a contract extension.
The all-time record shooter had been a free agent since July 1, but anyone with a heart for Naples hoped there would still be a happy ending to the saga surrounding the adopted son.
That did not happen, Mertens now also confirms the many signals that Napoli had already sent out to the world.
Dries “Ciro” Mertens moved from PSV to Napoli in 2013 and club, supporters and player fell madly in love with each other.
Mertens achieved cult status there and appeared to be playing in southern Italy until the end of his professional career, but that last chapter is not being written.
In perfect Italian and with his son Ciro on his lap, Dries Mertens formulates his word of thanks.
“I knew this day would come, but I didn’t know it would be so hard,” he says.
“I say goodbye to the city that adopted me, that loves me and that supported me through good and bad times.”
“The records and the victories are in the history books, the people and this city will be in my heart forever.”
“I am very proud that my son was born here and he will always be a Neapolitan.”
“This has been my home for 9 years and this city is in my blood. That is why I have decided to keep my home so that I can return often.”
Mertens thanks everything and everyone. “My departure did not go the way I wanted”, he says with a lump in his throat, “but this is not a goodbye, but a see you. We had so much fun here…”
