Hamsik’s decade with Napoli

CAIRO – 29 June 2017: Marek Hamsik signed a five-year contract for Italian club Napoli in 2007, leaving Brescia and marking the beginning of his rich history with Naples.


Now team captain and with career stats that threaten the Maradona throne, the Slovak played his first match with Napoli in August 2007 against Cesena in the Coppa Italia. The attacking midfielder scored his first goal for Napoli in the Italian League "Serie A" against Sampdoria in September 2007.


Hamsik, 29, has scored 113 goals for Napoli, putting him only two goals away from matching current top goal scorer, former Napoli fixture Diego Maradona with 115 goals.


Despite not winning the Italian League title, he won the Italian Cup in 2011 and 2014 in addition to the Italian Super Cup in 2014. The year 2014 proved to be a big year for the fan favorite as he ascended to the position of team captain after the departure of former captain Paolo Cannavaro.


While many Napoli players have left the club searching for money and glory, Hamsik has stayed loyal to his team. With offers from Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, Hamsik has turned them all down to stay in Naples, confirmed by Hamsik’s agent Juraj Venglos in an Express article.


In response to his reason for wanting to stay, Hamsik recently penned a letter to the Napoli fans in which he stated, “In Naples, I am part of a community - a family - that holds a very special place in my heart. I need to have more than just a pay check and trophies. I need to feel something in my soul.”