"Dries Mertens it's more Neapolitan of many Neapolitans. It is my intention to ask the mayor of Naples, prof. Gaetano Manfredi and I do it with a public appeal, the honorary citizenship to Dries Mertens. For various reasons, which go beyond the sporting aspect, which is also relevant, given what Napoli football represents for all Neapolitans”. He states it Diego Venanzoni, regional councilor of Campania.
“Dries, alias Ciro Mertens, more than many Neapolitans, with simplicity and naturalness, best represented the Neapolitan spirit for attachment, passion, character and spontaneity”, says the councilor. “An innate, visceral and emotional Neapolitanness that made him the Great Ciro that Naples and the Neapolitan fans will continue to love. Dries, in addition to being the greatest scorer in the history of Naples with 148 goals, he wanted his son, born in Naples, was called Ciro to further strengthen his bond with the city and therefore put that final seal that has forever tied him to Naples and the Neapolitans. And finally in his last video, the one of greetings to the fans, with a calm tone, with a loving look towards the fans he spoke of a 'goodbye' and not a 'goodbye', soon we will see him again in the city. After all, the fact that he has not left the Neapolitan house is a clear sign".
“For all these reasons, true and authentic - he concludes Venanzoni - certainly not the cheap ones used by the previous administrative experience, the mayor of Naples cannot but decide, in his own autonomy, to grant the honorary citizenship a Ciro Dries Mertens. I will ask many to join this heartfelt appeal because Naples needs authentic testimonies in the world that certainly do not last the space of a morning".
Article published on 4 August 2022 - 11:16
