There’s no longer a shred of doubt. Giovanni Di Lorenzo has decided to stay at Napoli after wild speculation regarding his future in the early summer. During a brief interview at a press conference, Di Lorenzo communicated his desire to continue his career at the Diego Maradona Stadium.
“After the season, I spoke to everyone, the president, the director, the coach,” the Napoli captain said, as reported by TMW. “I took my time to decide. My desire is to stay. I do it with the utmost desire and enthusiasm.”
Di Lorenzo’s statement emphatically shuts down intense rumors linking him with a move to Juventus. He initially seemed hellbent on leaving Napoli, but several chats with new manager Antonio Conte have seen him perform a U-turn on his original intention.
Everything seemed set for the 30-year-old to cut short his five-year association with Napoli during Italy’s ill-fated EURO 2024 campaign. Conte reportedly called the Partenopei captain during the tournament to talk him out of his will to exit the club but to no avail.
However, Conte’s persistence is well-documented. The former Inter and Juventus manager has never given up on Di Lorenzo. His relentless effort to keep hold of the attacking-minded right-back has paid off, enabling Napoli to focus on addressing other issues.
Victor Osimhen’s future remains the elephant in the room. Despite opting for a ‘waiting game,’ Napoli are running out of time to cash in on their wantaway striker, which would unlock Conte’s incoming market.
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