Last fall, Mertens began to play in the position of the center forward after the injury of attacking Napoli Arkadiusz Milika. He issued such a successful season that attracted the attention of Liverpool and Manchester United. There was also the interest of Barcelona, ??which Dris likes.
"If I knew that Neimar would leave ... Barcelona was interested in me for a while, but I did not want to be a substitute for Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neimaru. After a magnificent year in Napoli, I did not want to return to the bench, even if it's a bench in Barcelona, ??"Mertens told Het Laatste Nieuws.
"I decided to sign a new contract with Napoli, and then Neimar moved to PSG, blowing up the transfer market. Barcelona was looking for him a replacement and bought for 100 million euros a player who could be bought for 50 (Usman Dembele -. Sometimes I think, "What if I were in Barcelona now?". I like to think about it. Look who played in the left in Barcelona recently - there could be me.
"The last 12 months have been crazy. It's important to be happy. I know that things could not have been much better than they were. I understand that I'm not Leo Messi and not Cristiano Ronaldo. And anyway, I do not consider myself a world class player. Football Napoli is perfect for me - with him I will always score ".
Klausul Mertens was only 28 million euros.
"It's true, we negotiated with MJ this summer. Last winter I had an offer from China. I would get incredible sums. But Napoli did not want me to leave, and I myself wanted to stay. So nothing happened ".
"But what if this proposal comes up again? That's why I want the contract to include clausul. It's true that 28 million euros is not money for Chinese clubs, and for Napoli the amount is very modest. At least since the transfer of Neimar to PSG, 28 million euros are not kept for money. I became a bargain! Where else do you find a player who scores 28 goals in Serie A for the season and costs only 28 million? Nowhere, is not it? ".
Dries is just delighted with the coach Neapolitans Maurizio Sarri.
"Somebody has to make a documentary about Sarri. For example, until now he begins his speech before the game with: "I came from, and now I'm playing in the Champions League. And no one can take this away! ". Simply fantastic ".
"Our careers are similar. I'm not like Juri Thielemans who, from the age of 16, played as the basis for Anderlecht or Romel Lukak, who does not know how it is to play only a match a week. I made my way from the third division and worked hard to reach the current heights. Just like Sarri. Maurizio smokes and drinks a lot of coffee. But he also reads a lot ".
"Sarri came from the world of economics (previously worked in a bank -. ), so it's good when it comes to statistics. The philosophy of Sarri found recognition among young coaches, and respect from Guardiola proves that Maurizio knows his business. This is a great coach. I said that even when I did not go to the base! There is one more interesting detail: the incredible superstition of Sarri.
In one day we train in the same field, then on the next - and so until we reach the goal. He never deviates from routine procedures - unless we lose ".
In this season, Napoli leads in Serie A, ahead of 13 rounds Inter at 2 points. In the Champions League group, the "parthenopes" take third place, but they have a chance to go to the playoffs if they beat Feyenoord and Shakhtar give way to Man City.
Mertens this season spent 18 matches for Napoli in these two tournaments, celebrating 12 goals and 6 assists for Napoli.