Dries Mertens: Rafael Benitez asked me to convince Thomas Vermaelen to come to Napoli - 7M sport

Dries Mertens: Rafael Benitez asked me to convince Thomas Vermaelen to come to Napoli



Posted Wednesday, December 25, 2013 by YAHOO Sport

Rafael Benitez has roped Napoli attacker Dries Mertens in to his attempts to sign Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen in January.

Merten, who moved to the club in June from PSV, claims that the Partenopei coach has already asked him to encourage his fellow Belgian to make the switch to Serie A.

Furthermore, Mertens himself wants his international teammate to move to Napoli, with Vermaelen having fallen behind Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.

"I have already told Vermaelen to come to Napoli 10 times," Mertens, 26, told Knack. "The city is magnificent and even Benitez asked me to convince Vermaelen to come here.

"But Arsenal is a great club, and it won't be so easy for him to leave."

Vermaelen made only two league starts this season with the center back having previously stated a desire to play regularly in the run-up to World Cup 2014.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.