Latest news with #DriesMertens
Washington Post
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
De Bruyne will rely on Belgium teammate Lukaku for more than just goals at Napoli
Kevin De Bruyne is going to rely on Romelu Lukaku for more than just goals at his new club Napoli . He also wants translation help from his long time Belgium teammate. De Bruyne called Lukaku and former Napoli and Belgium standout Dries Mertens to feel out what the southern club was like before signing for the Italian champion.
Daily Tribune
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Belgium's Mertens announces retirement from football
Former Belgium forward Dries Mertens has announced his retirement from football, with his contract at Galatasaray due to expire at the end of this month. The 38-year-old said he was hanging up his boots in a video posted on social media on Sunday, but would play in an exhibition match organised by his former Napoli teammate Marek Hamsik in July. Mertens is Napoli's all-time record goalscorer with 148. He won two Italian Cups with the club before leaving for Galatasaray, where he won three successive Turkish Super Lig titles, in 2022.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sampdoria stays up as Serie B awards 3-0 win in relegation playoff after fan trouble
Sampdoria has pulled off a great escape as Serie B officials awarded it a 3–0 win over Salernitana on Monday after the second leg of the relegation playoff was abandoned, securing another season in Italy's second tier. The match between host Salernitana and Sampdoria was abandoned on Sunday after home fans threw smoke bombs and seats onto the pitch, with a Serie B sports judge ruling that Sampdoria would be awarded the win. Sampdoria now has a 5–0 aggregate victory after its first-leg win, confirming its escape from what had seemed like certain relegation to the third tier only a month ago. ALSO READ | Napoli's leading goalscorer, Dries Mertens, announces retirement from football The Genoa club was initially relegated to Serie C for the first time in its 78-year history in May, only to be handed a lifeline after Brescia was docked points for financial irregularities, dropping it below Sampdoria. For Salernitana, the season ended on a very sour note, with the Salerno club also ordered to play two matches behind closed doors, marking its second consecutive relegation in as many seasons. Related Topics Sampdoria
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Napoli's leading goalscorer, Dries Mertens, announces retirement from football
Former Belgium forward and Napoli's leading goalscorer, Dries Mertens, has announced his retirement from football, with his contract at Galatasaray set to expire at the end of this month. The 38-year-old announced his decision in a video posted on social media, but would play in an exhibition match organised by his former Napoli teammate Marek Hamsik in July. Career Timeline Mertens started his professional career with Gent in 2007 before going on to play for clubs like Eendracht Aalst, AGOVV, Utrecht and PSV Eindhoven. ALSO READ: Liverpool team news — Frimpong, a replacement to Trent Alexander-Arnold, ready for Premier League He moved to Serie A in 2013 after signing with Napoli and went on to become its leading goalscorer with 148 goals in 397 appearances. He won two Italian Cups with the club before leaving for Galatasaray in 2022, where he won three successive Turkish Super Lig titles. In Belgian Colours Mertens, who has 109 international appearances, last played in national colours at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Belgium failed to qualify from the group stages. He has scored 21 goals for his country. (inputs from AFP)
New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Belgium's Mertens announces retirement from football
ISTANBUL: Former Belgium forward Dries Mertens has announced his retirement from football, with his contract at Galatasaray due to expire at the end of this month. The 38-year-old said he was hanging up his boots in a video posted on social media on Sunday, but would play in an exhibition match organised by his former Napoli teammate Marek Hamsik in July. Mertens is Napoli's all-time record goalscorer with 148. He won two Italian Cups with the club before leaving for Galatasaray, where he won three successive Turkish Super Lig titles, in 2022. Mertens made the last of his 109 international appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Belgium were dumped out in the group stage, and scored 21 goals for his country. - AFP
