The captain of Napoli, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, has a message for you all —
Dear Napoli fans,
In recent weeks, our relationship has experienced some turbulent moments, akin to what Pino Daniele sings about in one of his beautiful songs as “scumbinato.” Even in the most passionate and beautiful stories, there are always times of crisis.
All those who have Napoli in their hearts have gone through very tough months. These were also the toughest 12 months of my career. From the immense joy of winning the title to the sorrow of achieving nothing, it was hard to take. I could feel your disappointment, and my teammates and I couldn’t change the fate of this year.
I admit that I had thoughts of leaving.
I could sense your discontent with me, just as President De Laurentiis said, I felt abandoned by the club. The poor performance on the pitch triggered everything — your anger, the club’s frustration, and my confusion.
My agent, Mario Giuffredi, is very close to me and cares deeply about me. Upon sensing my unease, he tried to protect me, hoping to secure the best for me. But no one wanted me to stay at Napoli more than him.
However, that difficult season is now behind us.
In recent days, I’ve spoken with President De Laurentiis and head coach Conte. I don’t want to make any empty promises, but I want to tell you: “I can’t wait to start over. I feel like one of you.”
There may be other difficult times ahead, but I will never forget everything that this city, the fans, the club, and President De Laurentiis have done for me and my family. Winning the first Serie A title after Diego’s departure, and the third in the club’s history, as captain and alongside the team, was not only an honor but also a responsibility. I cannot leave after such a season that has let down everyone who loves this shirt.
I am disappointed by everything that happened, but let me say again, it’s all in the past. Now, I see only the pride of being able to wear the shirt I love and bear the captain’s armband. Let’s show Italy the true strength of Napoli and give the fans the thrill they experienced in 2023 once again.
Our city deserves to feel that joy again. For this, we have much work to do. I promise you, as our coach says, we will go out with angry faces. It’s time to lift our heads. We must pull together. Let’s meet at Castel Sangro and then at the Stadio Maradona.
Looking forward to seeing you by our side, as always.
Giovanni