After weeks of countless rumors about his future, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the right-back and captain of the Azzurri, comes forward. 'Dear Napoli fans, in the past weeks our love has been a bit “scumbinato”, like the one Pino Daniele sang about in one of his beautiful songs. Even in the most beautiful and intense stories, moments of crisis happen,' said the Neapolitan player, who will join Antonio Conte's team in the coming weeks after his post-Euro 2024 vacation.
His future seemed to be away from Napoli, but after his arrival, Conte and sporting director Manna worked hard to ensure his stay and calm the waters with his agent Mario Giuffredi. Signs of reconciliation had already appeared in the past few days, with social media messages from the club clearly stating his stay: 'All those who, like us, carry blue in their hearts have gone through 12 very difficult months.
For me, they were the hardest of my career. Going from the unforgettable joy of the Scudetto to the sadness of a season where nothing went right was a trauma that was hard to process. I felt your disappointment on my skin and couldn't change the course of our season with my teammates. I admit, the thought of leaving crossed my mind.
I felt your dissatisfaction towards me and, as the President said, I had the perception of being abandoned by the club. After the collapse we experienced on the field, however, everything was understandable: your anger, the club's frustration, my confusion.'
'With Mario Giuffredi, my agent, I have a relationship that goes beyond the professional sphere. He sensed my discomfort and did his job: trying to act in my protection and in my interest. But no one is happier than him that I stayed in Napoli. That cursed season, however, is finally over. I listened to the words of President De Laurentiis and those of coach Antonio Conte, I spoke with both in recent days, and the message I can convey to you, without making useless proclamations and empty promises, is very simple: I can't wait to start again. Because I feel like one of you,' read the post published on social media.
And the conclusion: 'There may be other difficult moments, but I will never deny what the City, fans, and Club, in the person of President De Laurentiis, have done for me and my family. Being the captain of the third Scudetto, the first without Diego, is not just an honor: it is a responsibility. I couldn't leave like that, after an unbearable season for the value of the jersey we wear.'
I am sorry for everything that happened to us, but I reiterate, it is now behind us. Ahead of me, I now see only the pride of wearing those colors I love again, that armband, the desire to show Italy the true strength of our Napoli and to relive the thrilling emotions of 2023.
Our city deserves to rejoice again. We have to work hard and I assure you we will do it with an angry face, as the coach said. It's time to lift our heads, and we must do it all together. See you at Castel Di Sangro and then especially at Maradona.'