Dries Mertens has surpassed Diego Maradona’s tally of 115 goals in a Napoli jersey and is now closing on Marek Hamsik’s record of 121.

The 32-year-old Belgian bagged a brace during this evening’s 3-2 Champions League victory away to RB Salzburg.

He had been one goal behind Maradona’s total of 115, but in one night matched and surpassed it to reach 116.

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Marek Hamsik says “I won’t rule out” a return to Napoli, whom he thinks “can do anything” this season.

Hamsik left Napoli for Dalian Yifang at the turn of the year but remains the player with the most appearances and goals in the Partenopei’s history.

“It’s going well in China,” the 32-year-old told Sport Mediaset after he played alongside Milan Skriniar for Slovakia last night.

“The season ends soon. It’s already been a year and I’ve got used to things here.

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Stephan El Shaarawy scored two lobs as Shanghai Shenhua beat Marek Hamsik’s Dalian Yifang 3-2 to reach the Chinese FA Cup Final.

Hamsik broke the deadlock to give Dalian a 14th-minute lead, glancing home a header.

However, El Shaarawy responded with a brace before half-time, lobbing the goalkeeper on both occasions.

Shenhua went on to win 3-2, and they will face Shanghai SIPG or Graziano Pelle’s Shandong Luneng in the Final.

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Dries Mertens warned Napoli “have a strong squad, but if we want to win something, we need to buy in order to raise the level. I’d like to stay for many more years.”

The Belgian spoke at a Q&A from their training retreat in Dimaro, alongside Lorenzo Insigne and Kostas Manolas.

He was asked about the on-going transfer saga around Real Madrid creative midfielder James Rodriguez.

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Rafa Benitez is reunited with former Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik after being appointed the new Coach of Dalian Yifang.

Benitez only left Newcastle United on Sunday but has already found work in China with Dalian.

Reports in England claim the 59-year-old will earn a £12m (€13.4m) salary – double what he earned at Newcastle.

The Spaniard links back up with Hamsik, the pair having worked together at Napoli between 2013 and 2015, winning a Coppa Italia and Supercoppa.

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Marek Hamsik’s representative laughed off reports of a return to Italy for Roma. “He is absolutely happy at Dalian Yifang.”

There were some improbable suggestions in La Repubblica newspaper this morning that Roma were ready to swap Javier Pastore with Hamsik.

That would mean swinging straight back to Serie A just six months after leaving Napoli and joining one of their bitter rivals.

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Roma could make a move to bring Napoli hero Marek Hamsik back from China and exchange him with Javier Pastore, claim La Repubblica.

According to the newspaper, Giallorossi President James Pallotta is considering offering Pastore to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang in exchange for the former Napoli captain.

The paper also reports that the Chinese side would be willing to pay some of the Slovakian’s €9m a year salary, as he is reportedly fed up with life in China and wants a return to Italy.

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Former Napoli captain Marek Hamsik has confessed that he is finding China and the language barrier difficult. “I can only use gestures.”

Hamsik only joined Dalian Yifang from Napoli in February but was dropped for Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to League leaders Beijing Guoan.

The 31-year-old has yet to score or assist in six appearances for the Chinese club, and he admits ‘I’ve not encountered a situation like this before.’

“I am not particularly satisfied with my performances,” AFP quotes him as telling CCTV.

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