Lorenzo Insigne
To those who criticise me for leaving Serie A at just 31 years old, I have nothing to say because I am happy with the decision I made and I am moving on.Collection: Moving
My dream, always, was to play in the Napoli shirt at the San Paolo. For me, there was no other dream. I didn't play any other sports.Collection: Sports
I had an interview and I said Messi is the best player in the world. However, I do not want to compare him with Maradona, who is everything for us. I do not want to compare him.
I was surprised by the MLS because there are all very good facilities, new pitches and very nice stadiums.
I'm doing well in Toronto and I'm starting to study the language. It's right that way, to understand people, my teammates and the coach.
I would rather have my actions speak for me on the pitch.
I want the people to love me and to understand me better with my action on the pitch.
I won a lot with Napoli and I lost as well but I wanted a change and more importantly a challenge.
Messi is extraordinary, even if personally I still think the greatest player who ever lived was Diego Maradona.
I have always supported this club and would like to one day become a symbol of Napoli.
I've heard people say soccer in North America is not real soccer. But I've seen it and it's not true.
I played for Napoli for 10 years and for the Italian national team, winning the Euros.
I had considered giving up but my desire and passion were too strong. I wanted to make it as professional footballer and now I'm here.
I just really love playing and, of course, left wing is my natural role, but whatever the coach chooses, I'm happy.
I don't have the physical abilities to be a goalie.
Napoli is my home.
If I had to spend money on a ticket, it would be a Champions League final.
I never miss a football game on TV.
They used to say I had some talent, but was too short. At one point, I wanted to quit football, as the scouts all told me the same thing and I thought it might be futile to continue. Then I had a trial with Napoli and it went well.
I didn't think about anything but football.
Technique, strength, speed - you can just work harder and improve. But your height? What can you do? I'd wake up every morning hoping I'd grown overnight. But nothing.
Every time I go out to play at San Paolo, I get goosebumps. Because I think about what it means for my family, and I think about everything my father sacrificed over the years to keep me going.
Frattamaggiore, the neighborhood where I grew up, was very difficult.
You know, I hear some people speak bad about Napoli, and it's very frustrating for me, because they don't know the city. To me, it's the best city in the world.
Where I'm from, everybody knows everybody.
When I got into the youth academy, it was just incredible because my family were always huge Napoli supporters, but we could not afford to go to many matches when I was a kid. So when I was in the youth system, I would always beg to be one of the ball boys just so I could go to the San Paolo and stand on the sidelines.
I grew up with only the myth of El Diego and his greatness, and of course he is a legend all over the world. But in Napoli? In Napoli? He is like a God.
When people speak bad about Napoli, they need to wake up. Even God himself loved it here. And by God, of course I mean Mr. Maradona.
I don't like to cause controversy.
I've always said that I respect the coach's decisions.
The Scudetto with Napoli is my goal.
If Sarri went to Juve for us Neapolitans it would surely be a betrayal.
My rapport with Ancelotti is a bit odd, as at times we have had rows, but that's all down to our respective personalities. There is a difference of character between us. We happen to squabble, but Carlo remains a great coach and I hope to win with him.
Some Napoli fans haven't understood me, as they consider me arrogant, as if they have a different image of how I am in reality.
Rafa Benitez? In his system, the defensive side which I had previously neglected was fundamental, with Rafa I learned to play both phases with the same intensity.
I've proved what I am worth and there are people around who appreciate me.