Napoli legend Marek Hamsik has opened up about how important winning the Scudetto is to the club's fans and staff
Napoli legend Marek Hamsik has labelled the possibility of seeing his favourite team lift the scudetto for the 2022/23 season a dream come true.
Napoli on the verge of famous Serie A title
Napoli are on the verge of claiming their first Serie A title in 33 years and could seal the title with a win over Salernitana this weekend, and Hamsik says this is something that brings him pride.
During his 12-year stay at Napoli, Hamsik came desperately close to winning the title himself, but the team always fell short in critical moments.
Despite becoming the club’s highest goalscorer before leaving in 2019, Hamsik was unable to secure the title for the team, but says he is happy that the crop of 2023 have been able to deliver the Scudetto.
Speaking with Italian outlet Il Mattino, Hamsik said, “I am proud. It is an immense joy, I think of the Neapolitans who asked me every year to win this Scudetto. And now it has arrived. Finally.”
“Because for so long we have been close to it, we have only touched it. Many times, I imagined what this moment of immense joy for the city would be like. Because I know how people live Napoli, I know what Napoli is for their fans.
Hamsik happy Napoli fans get to experience Scudetto win
He was especially happy for the fans of the club, who he believes deserved the title after so many years of support as well as the club’s staff.
“Every time I met the fans they would say: ‘We have to win the Scudetto’. It’s a dream come true for everyone,” Hamsik said, before continuing “And I’m happy for the team, for the directors, for the doctors, for the keepers of Castel Volturno. It is a victory for all of them.
“Napoli is a piece of me, this Scudetto is not mine but of those who fought and won it. I have experienced unforgettable celebrations, like for the Coppa Italia won in 2012, after 22 years of not winning anything.
“I know what the Neapolitans’ desire for rebirth is, I touched it with my own hands as soon as I arrived, with Lavezzi. And that’s why I’m happy.”
Hamsik recounted his arrival at the Partenopei in July 2007 and compared himself to Napoli’s rave of the moment, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, saying, “Pocho [Lavezzi] and I arrived with people saying, ‘Who are these two?’ And in the scepticism, we grew, protected by the team. As Kvara and Kim did this summer.
“Kvara only needed two games to show his power, his strength, his ability in the one-on-one to get past the man nine times out of ten and create superiority.”
The former Partenopein captain also lauded club president Aurelio De Laurentiis ,saying the Scudetto would mean the world to him.
“Yes, he wanted to win, it’s not true that he wasn’t aiming to win the Scudetto. Hamsik said, before continuing, I saw him happy after winning the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa, I can imagine how he will be now.”
Finally, Hamsik talked about his failure to win a league title with Napoli, saying he had no regrets.
He said, “I have no regrets. I did everything I could to win the Scudetto. I gave every ounce of my energy to win it in my 12 years. As did all my teammates. I carry in my heart the victories that gave us Champions League qualification, the Champions League anthem at the San Paolo.”
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