Aurelio De Laurentiis, President of Napoli has affirmed that they have offered Dries Mertens a contract extension.
Napoli forward Dries Mertens pipped Marek Hamsik to become the club’s all-time best goalscorer during the 1-1 draw in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter Milan.
Since arriving at the San Paolo back in 2013, Mertens has now notched up 122 strikes and has made over 300 appearances.
Saturday’s match was one of many instances when the Italy international delivered when it mattered the most for he has been a significant figure in the Gli Azzuri line-up throughout this season both under Carlo Ancelotti and Gennaro Gattuso.
Rumors linking him with a move to Chelsea and the fact that his current contract is set to expire in the coming summer has seen the 33-year old’s future at Napoli called into question in the past few weeks.
President Aurelio De Laurentiis, however, maintains the club are taking necessary steps to ensure he stays well beyond just this season.
And despite it being against the policies of the club to hold onto aging players, adds De Laurentiis, Napoli have made an exception for a player of Mertens’ quality.
He told Corriere Dello Sport: “He is a street urchin. We met for breakfast six months ago, it was a revelation. I discovered a special man, intelligent, mentally sharp, a badass.”
“Renewing the contract for a 33-year-old footballer is not part of our habits. But with Mertens, it was simple, natural.”
“I will say more when he has stopped playing, I would like to find him a role to continue the collaboration.”
