Mertens hope for Napoli reunion with Lukaku and De Bruyne | OneFootball

Galatasaray striker Dries Mertens reveals he will definitely return to live in Naples after retirement so he can ‘have dinner with Romelu Lukaku’ and hints at advising Kevin de Bruyne to join Napoli.

The forward just celebrated his 38th birthday and his wife is about to give birth to a baby girl, joining son Ciro, who was named after the very Neapolitan nickname he received when playing for the Partenopei.

During the title celebrations for Galatasaray, Mertens was very emotional and in floods of tears, suggesting it could be his final game before hanging up his boots.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he told Sporza in Belgium.

“I’ve always said I’m looking forward to quitting football, as there are so many things I still want to do after my playing career is over. I can’t wait.”

Napoli calling for Mertens and family

epa12092555 Napoli’s forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring the goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs CF Genoa at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, 11 May 2025. EPA-EFE/CESARE ABBATE

Mertens and his family were very happy at Napoli, where they stayed from 2013 until 2022, when he was not offered a new contract.

He kept his home on the bay of Naples and confirmed it is his intention to return there after retirement, joking he has even more reason to do so now that his old friend and fellow Belgium international has joined.

“We already talked about it. When I stop football, I want to live in Naples and have lots of dinner parties with Lukaku.”

De Bruyne inspired to join Napoli too

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Etihad Stadium on May 02, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

It is no secret that De Bruyne has been approached as a free agent by Napoli after the end of his Manchester City career, so did the Belgian ask Mertens for advice?

“Oh I don’t know,” he grinned in response.