Milik: ‘Preparing for next season’

By Football Italia staff

Arkadiusz Milik reveals he won’t be going on holiday this summer - “I want to recover well and start next season with Napoli like I started my first”.

The Polish striker joined the Partenopei from Ajax in €32m deal last summer, but an injury on international duty ruled him our for three months and Dries Mertens took his place in the side.

“Mertens started playing well, taking advantage of the fact I was injured,” Milik told reporters in his home country.

“It was difficult to be out with the injury but the team did well and the Belgian scored more than 30 goals.

“Now I’m thinking of pre-season in July, there will be no battle between myself and Mertens.

“I can’t say if I’m ready to play 90 minutes, but I’m definitely cured. I’m ready to fight, I feel good, better than before.

“In March it seemed that I was fine, but I’ve noticed further progress in the last three months from a physical point of view: aggressiveness and speed even though they were already at high levels.

“I was only out for three months, I was doing leg work straight after the operation, recovering my body slowly with exercises.

“I trusted Napoli’s medical staff 100 per cent, who helped me in the best way while keeping me under observation. The time flew by.

“These situations test your strength, I’ve endured it and become stronger.

“I lost several months but I’ve become stronger mentally. My family supported me the whole time, showing me who I can count on.

“I’m not going to go on holiday, I want to recover well and start the next season with Napoli like I started my first.”

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis complained about Milik’s lack of playing time after his recovery…

“The President makes his remarks, but he doesn’t see everything. It’ll be the boss [Maurizio Sarri] who decides who plays, he’s the man who knows the squad best, he has a bigger vision.”

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow