Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne has revealed that his intention is to stay at Napoli ‘for as long as possible’ and underlines the significance of football in the city of Naples, as the young starlet is edging towards a return to full training.
The 23-year-old has been out of action since November 9 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, suffered in the Partenopei’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina, but he looks set to make a return soon.
Insigne has issued a statement for the new documentary This is Napoli. This is what he said exclusively to TuttoNapoli.net about his relationship to the city of Naples, the club itself and about the stereotypical views on southern Italy.
“In Naples we live football as they do in other places, but here it is slightly more intense,” said the Italian international.
“In Naples, even if you are not napoletano (native), you are welcomed as if you were one of the family. The city is not well-thought-of in the north, because it is looked at in a different perspective. In the perspective of the Camorra, Mafia, the waste.
“I want to send an important message to all: Naples is not only a violent city, as it is described in the north, but also a great city that must be experienced before it can be judged.
“It cannot be judged by people living in Rome or Milan, as I do not judge these respective cities.
“It is difficult to grow up in Naples with the myth of [Diego] Maradona. He is unique and people expect other players to be the same.
“I am from Naples and as a child I always dreamed of playing football as well as playing it with the Napoli shirt. Everyone here wants to play with the Partenopei shirt.
“I have accomplished this dream and I will try to stay here for as long as possible and win something important in the future.”
