Hamsik seals Dalian deal

By CHINA DAILY

Marek Hamsik’s move from Napoli to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang was on Thursday confirmed by the Italian club.

“An agreement has been reached with Dalian — I wish Marek happiness in China. The door will always be open for him here at Napoli,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis tweeted.

Slovakia international Hamsik is ending a 12-year spell at Napoli, where he surpassed Diego Maradona as the club’s all-time top scorer with 121 goals and won two Coppa Italia titles and one Super Cup.

“A captain, an example, a footballer and a man that Napoli will love forever and that will remain forever in our history,” said a Napoli statement.

Reports say the Serie A club will receive 20 million euro ($22.6 million) from Dalian for the player, who will earn 9 million euros annually in a three-year deal.

After news of his departure became official, Hamsik said goodbye to Napoli and its fans in an emotional post on Instagram.

“Napoli is in my heart. I’ve tattooed ‘Napoli’ on my skin, as well as our first victory in the Coppa Italia after 25 years. It’s impossible to forget that game,” wrote Hamsik, referring to the 2012 cup final victory over Juventus.

“It’s impossible to forget that moment when I beat (Giuseppe) Bruscolotti’s record or when I broke the goal record, set by the god of football himself, Diego Armando Maradona.

“I’d like to thank everyone: the president, all the coaches who trained me, all the medical and technical staff and everyone else at SSC Napoli; my friends who I’ll miss, but I know they’ll never leave me because they’re part of my family... I love you and I will love this city forever.”

The 31-year-old will play alongside former Atletico Madrid duo Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan for Dalian, which finished 11th in last season’s CSL.