Insigne Speaks Out on Misunderstanding With Napoli’s Fateful
Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli’s left-winger is set to depart the club at the end of the season. The team’s captain has spoken about his beginnings as a footballer and previous disagreements he had with fans of the team.
The Partenopei’s 30-year-old Italian winger will be leaving the club at the end of this campaign This ends a long association with the club. He will join MLS side Toronto FC as a free transfer. Insigne made over 400 appearances in a Napoli jersey. He has scored 115 goals and provided 91 assists to date.
Insigne spoke to RivistaUndici.com about the start of his career as a footballer.
My first ball was a Super Santos, orange, light, not as light as the Super Tele which was impossible to control, it followed the wind. I played in the street, we put bricks as goals, you knew when you started and you didn’t know when you finished.
There was a sort of pitch where you could play two against two, three against three, a cage, I used to have fun like that.
In spite of his amazing current ability, not everyone was initially convinced. Lorenzo Insigne tried out for FC Torino and Inter Milan but was rejected both times. The Euro 2020 winner recalls these trying times.
My football school was affiliated to Torino, they made me sign something that said that when I was 14-15 years old I would go to them for a tryout. I went, I did two or three training sessions, I played a game and they told me, yes, good, but honestly we expected you to grow.
They sent me home, and the same thing happened at Inter. The only one who believed in me was Peppe Santoro, in the youth sector at Napoli.
Insinge also addressed his special, sometimes tense relationship with Napoli’s fans. The team’s captain addressed previous misunderstandings with the club’s fateful.
People have always expected a lot from me. I’ve tried to reciprocate. I’ve had disagreements sometimes with the fans and I’m sorry. A captain is a guarantor for the people who love the team, I think I’ve always ensured that Napoli don’t fail in their commitment on the pitch. As the fans in the stands say, beyond the result.
Do you want to know what Napoli didn’t understand about me? I have a particular character. I can joke with everyone, but in the beginning I keep my distance. For some fans it’s arrogance, it looks like I want to pull one over on them. It’s just a defensive attitude. Some people have never understood me 100%. Those who really know me know what I’m like.
Napoli is currently in second place. Lorenzo Insigne is expected to start as The Partenopei takes on Serie A leaders Inter Milan in tonight’s derby.