It is still uncertain whether Dries Mertens will still play for his beloved Napoli after the summer of 2022. The 34-year-old Belgian has a clause in his contract that the club can withdraw at any time. The question is whether that will still happen.
After an earlier adventure at AGOVV Apeldoorn, where he played with fellow countryman Nacer Chadli, among others, Mertens was picked up by FC Utrecht in the 2009/10 season. The light-footed dribbler made a big impression in the Domstad. After two seasons, PSV knocked on the door. The right leg also made a name for himself there and caused a sensation with his productivity. In 88 matches for the Eindhoven team, Mertens managed to score 45 times.
At Napoli, Mertens subsequently worked his way up to a public favorite and club icon. The International arrived in 2013 with the Italian superpower and soon proved its ability to excel at an even higher level. He scored 141 goals in 376 official matches, of which the 122nd was the most historic. With that goal, the Leuvenaar crowned himself the club’s all-time top scorer, passing the greatest Napoli player of all time: Diego Armando Maradona.
For the time being, the nine-year marriage between Napoli and Mertens will end next summer. In an interview with Sky Sport Italia , the Belgian confirms the existence of the clause and the absence of an agreement to continue for longer. He doesn’t care about it. “If the clause is not lifted, I will leave Napoli with a smile. I have always said that I have felt very much at home here. I gave everything to this club and this club has done the same for me. I hope to stay here, but if not, we’ll shake hands.’
