Ex-Napoli director Pierpaolo Marino believes Rafa Benitez “was destroying Marek Hamsik” and reveals an Antonio Di Natale deal.
Hamsik has never disguised his happiness at working under Maurizio Sarri after Rafa Benitez left, where he was sacked by Real Madrid.
“Hamsik is a good lad and Benitez was destroying him,” former director general Marino told Il Roma newspaper.
“He was always played out of position and substituted, his potential was being impoverished and consequently the boy was losing motivation.
Ex-Napoli director Pierpaolo Marino believes Rafa Benitez “was destroying Marek Hamsik” and reveals an Antonio Di Natale deal.
Hamsik has never disguised his happiness at working under Maurizio Sarri after Rafa Benitez left, where he was sacked by Real Madrid.
“Hamsik is a good lad and Benitez was destroying him,” former director general Marino told Il Roma newspaper.
“He was always played out of position and substituted, his potential was being impoverished and consequently the boy was losing motivation.
“Marek simply couldn’t react to the situation. Fortunately Sarri arrived and he now uses him in his ideal role, just as Edy Reja did. We’ve recovered a world class player.”
Marino also revealed the face of Napoli’s forward line could’ve been very different in 2008.
“We had a deal with Di Natale and he was meant to become a Napoli player the year Fabio Quagliarella arrived, but then it all fell apart, perhaps because of his family wanting to stay in Udine.
“I don’t know why he so rarely ends up playing against his hometown club at the San Paolo, but I know for certain he is one of the few Neapolitans who really enjoys scoring here.
“He is so fond of the city, even if his career has developed outside of Naples since youth level. On Sunday we need to be careful at the Dacia Arena, because if he gets the right chance, he’ll put it in the net.”