Napoli midfielder David Lopez has revealed that he’s been enjoying his debut season with the Azzurri and confirms that his arrival in Naples has given him the chance to grow as a player.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Partenopei from Espanyol last summer, admits that he was facing a difficult time in his footballing career when he signed with the San Paolo outfit but has insisted that his role in Rafa Benitez’s squad has allowed him to gain more experience and make improvements to his game.
Lopez spoke to Radio Marca Barcelona about his time at Napoli thus far and commented on his mission to help the Serie A club reach the highest levels of success in football.
“I would have liked to stay at Espanyol for another season, but the club needed me to make this move and I had the opportunity to join one of the best teams in Europe,” said the Spaniard.
“It was hard to say no, we want to win it all here. However, I do hope to return to Espanyol later on in my career.
“I have five years on my contract here at Napoli and I want to continue enjoying this new adventure.
“We won the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus, who have a much better trophy record than us, and I’ve been able to play in Europe.
“These are experiences that help you mature as a player. I’ve had to fight against criticism but I’ve been able to move forward with the support of my wife, Andrea, who was by my side the whole time.
“Now everything has been going much better.
“I’ve been able to adapt well to life at Napoli, my team-mates have been great to help me integrate at this top club in this fantastic city.
“There’s also a lot of Spanish-speaking players in the locker room, so that helped a lot as well.
“I would like to earn a spot in the national team, but it will take time. It’s everyone’s dream and I saw Jose Callejon achieve it a little while ago.
“However, it’s not my priority. I want to work hard at Napoli and help my club achieve greatness.”
