Napoli hero Dries Mertens confirmed he was approached by Barcelona, but “I didn’t want to go back on the bench. Then Neymar left…”
The Belgium international became a sensation at the Stadio San Paolo with his new role as a centre-forward only a year in the making.
He spoke to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws and you can read the rest of his comments here.
Napoli hero Dries Mertens confirmed he was approached by Barcelona, but “I didn’t want to go back on the bench. Then Neymar left…”
The Belgium international became a sensation at the Stadio San Paolo with his new role as a centre-forward only a year in the making.
He spoke to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws and you can read the rest of his comments here.
“Every now and then you feel like doing something different. I don’t always go on vacation in the same place… but at this moment, a transfer is not in my plans.”
Although Liverpool and Manchester United are interested, the club Mertens had his heart set on was Barcelona and it very nearly came through.
“If I’d known Neymar was going to leave… There was interest from them for a while, but I would’ve been the reserve to Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, so after a great year at Napoli, I didn’t want to go back on the bench, even if it was Barcelona.
“I decided to sign a new contract here and then Neymar went to Paris Saint-Germain, so the transfer market exploded. Barcelona, seeking a replacement, paid €100m for a player they should’ve shelled out half for,” he said referring to Ousmane Dembele.
“At times I think: ‘What would I be like now at Barcelona.’ I like to think that, because if you look at who has been playing on the left there in recent months… I could’ve played there.”