Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo sat down with Serie A ahead of Matchday 21 to speak about his growth as a professional, becoming the captain of the Partenopei, and the 2022-23 Scudetto.
Youth to Professional Career
A knack for scoring runs through the veins of fullback Di Lorenzo. He showed it right from the start.
“Like many others, I started out as a forward. I scored loads of goals, and that’s where my nickname Batigol comes from… Becoming a professional footballer was a lifelong dream of mine. Over time this became a realistic objective… I’m having the time of my life and I hope to keep this up…”
The New Captain of Napoli
Di Lorenzo, a mainstay for Napoli since 2019, inherited the captaincy last summer following Lorenzo Insigne’s departure. It’s a real tribute to the leadership qualities of one of Serie A’s less-heralded players.
“Wearing the captain’s armband fills me with pride. It’s a nice responsibility to have. When the coach appointed me as captain last summer, I was over the moon… It’s an important and challenging role. I try and justify my wearing of the armband every day and do a great job for these wonderful players….”
Napoli to Win the 2022-23 Scudetto?
No team from outside Milan or Turin has won Serie A since 2001. Using the narrative force of the underdog storyline, league leaders Napoli have the whole city behind them as they chase their third Scudetto.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my three and a half seasons here, it’s that Naples’ collective mood depends on how Napoli do. This means we carry a lot of responsibility for our fans I’d be lying to you if I said we didn’t have a great chance this season. However, the club and team are aware that there’s a long way to go…”