Dries Mertens, one in every of Belgium’s most dazzling soccer exports, has referred to as time on a 20-year skilled profession that glittered from the Netherlands to Napoli, and most lately Istanbul.
The 38-year-old ahead introduced his retirement on Tuesday, following the expiration of his contract with Turkish champions Galatasaray.
But earlier than formally stepping away, Mertens will make one final look – on July 3 – for a farewell match honoring former Napoli teammate Marek Hamsik.
“I’ve retired, but I’ll put on my boots one last time for you. You’ll always be my captain,” Mertens stated in an emotional tribute that captured the enduring bond between the 2 Napoli legends.
From underdog to icon
Mertens’ soccer journey started within the Dutch second tier with AGOVV Apeldoorn, the place his technical aptitude and eye for objective earned a transfer to FC Utrecht after which PSV Eindhoven.
But it was in Naples the place he transcended mere stardom.
Signing with Napoli in 2013, Mertens grew to become the membership’s all-time high scorer with 148 objectives in 397 matches.
Add in 90 assists, and his identify grew to become etched alongside town’s biggest – Maradona and Hamsik included.
He received three main trophies with Napoli and spearheaded their attacking line with relentless creativity and scientific ending.
Golden chapter in Türkiye
In 2022, Mertens crossed the Bosporus to affix Galatasaray.
Despite arriving on the twilight of his profession, he proved to be a vital cog within the staff’s back-to-back Süper Lig title wins in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
In 136 appearances, Mertens tallied 25 objectives and 44 assists, delighting Istanbul crowds together with his intelligence, tireless urgent and signature finesse.
Time to go residence
Speaking in a farewell interview on Galatasaray’s YouTube channel, Mertens stated the choice to retire was fueled by a want to be extra current together with his household.
“Football gave me everything. Now it’s time to give back to my family,” he stated.
Mertens’ last curtain name is available in Slovakia, the place he’ll swimsuit up as soon as extra for Hamsik’s tribute match – a becoming epilogue for 2 of Serie A’s most interesting imports.
Their six-year partnership at Napoli stays one of many membership’s most revered eras, each for its chemistry on the sphere and camaraderie off it.
Source: www.dailysabah.com