White smoke is finally in sight: Dries Mertens is approaching a contract extension at SSC Napoli. The Italian club has really used everything to convince the Belgian, writes the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Wednesday.
Whether or not a contract extension for Mertens? Both parties have been talking to each other for months, but the signatures have still not been signed. The newspapaer writes that Mertens has been “blackmailed emotionally” by Napoli. Emotional messages from fans, targeted press leaks and hours of Skype sessions capitalize on his sense of honor. The pressure to sign up for the club of his heart for two years had grown (too) big yesterday ‘, according to the newspaper.
Napoli had already had a two-year contract ready for Mertens, who had some requirements. It was not necessarily about money, but especially legally everything had to be boarded up. For example, there was no agreement yet on portrait rights, an important point in the negotiations between a player and an Italian club.
Internazionale seemed close to Mertens’ arrival and Chelsea was also interested. However, Napoli had no intention of letting the former player of FC Utrecht and PSV leave and even used the media to keep him, according to The newspapaer. The newspaper points to chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis. “The extravagant film producer has accelerated in recent weeks and staged a drama to keep the attacker in Campania.”
Messages from fans appeared begging at his door begging him to stay. Local politicians called for him to be made an honorary citizen of Napoli. Technical director Cristiano Giuntoli and trainer Gennaro Gattuso talked to him through hours of Skype sessions. And then there were the targeted press leaks to La Gazzetta dello Sport and other influential media. The emotional pressure was increased as much as possible to have Mertens signed for two years. ‘
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