Former Napoli Star Wants To Return After Galatasaray Success

Written By Onyeka Daniel

After losing the Serie A title last season and failing to even qualify for any European competition this season, it is about to be a different story for Napoli as they’re on the verge of winning their second Serie A title in three years and things might even get better for next season.

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The squad that won that title under Luciano Spalletti may have been largely dispersed but we might witness the return of a special member of that team soon, even though it might not be a return to the field and it’s definitely not Victor Osimhen after his unceremonious loan move to Galatasaray.

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Another Galatasaray striker, Dries Mertens has revealed that he will definitely return to live in Naples after retirement, which is probably going to be at the end of the 2024-25 season, so he can ‘have dinner with Romelu Lukaku’ and hints at advising Kevin de Bruyne to join Napoli.

The forward just celebrated his 38th birthday and his wife is about to give birth to a baby girl, joining son Ciro, who was named after the very Neapolitan nickname he received when playing for the Partenopei that culminated in a Serie A title triumph in the 2022-23 season.

During the title celebrations for newly crowned Turkish league champions, Mertens was very emotional and in floods of tears, suggesting it could be his final game before hanging up his boots. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he told Sporza in Belgium.

“I’ve always said I’m looking forward to quitting football, as there are so many things I still want to do after my playing career is over. I can’t wait.” Mertens and his family were very happy at Napoli, where they stayed from 2013 until 2022, when he was not offered a new contract.

He kept his home on the bay of Naples and confirmed it is his intention to return there after retirement, joking he has even more reason to do so now that his old friend and fellow Belgium international has joined. “We already talked about it. When I stop football, I want to live in Naples and have lots of dinner parties with Lukaku.”

It Is no secret that De Bruyne has been approached as a free agent by Napoli after the end of his Manchester City career, so did the Belgian ask Mertens for advice? “Oh I don’t know,” he grinned in response as the Manchester City captain is expected to leave the EPL in June.

In a related development, recent reports claim that the Serie A trophy will be at the Stadio Maradona for Napoli’s final league match of the season against Cagliari, but there have not yet been any definitive plans put in place in the event that Inter overtake them and claim the title.

There is just one point separating Napoli and Inter at the top of the Serie A table with one game of the 2024-25 season left to play. Both teams will play their final matches of the season – Napoli-Cagliari and Como-Inter – on Friday night, though there could be one more match still.

There is still one specific set of results that will lead to the Serie A title being decided via a play-off, hence why the game will be played on Friday and not later in the weekend, with Inter involved in the Champions League final against PSG the weekend following.

According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, preparations are in place for a potential Napoli title celebration party on Friday night after their game against Cagliari. A victory for Antonio Conte’s side will be enough to secure the title, in the coach’s first season in charge.

A draw will leave them relying on Inter dropping points away against Como. As is usual for the team at the top of the table heading into the final day of the season, the trophy will be in Naples and there are plans in place for an on-pitch ceremony after full-time if they claim the title.

It Is also customary for there to be a back-up plan in the event that the team in second or below wins the title on the final day, however, according to reports, there are not currently any definitive plans in place for an Inter title celebration at the Sinigaglia, the home of Como.

Read Also: The Last Game Of The Season And The Date For 2025-26 Serie A Season Revealed

If Inter were to win the title, there are suggestions that there could be a celebration back in the city of Milano on Sunday, however, there are still logistical concerns with rivals AC Milan in action in San Siro on Saturday, but it remains to be seen what the final plan is in the event that Inter overtake Napoli in the final round of the season.

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