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Dries Mertens announces retirement from football with a legendary farewell.
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Mertens prepares for one last match in emotional July send-off.
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Napoli hero and Turkish champion Mertens ends his iconic journey.
Dries Mertens has declared his retirement from football on Sunday.
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The Belgian former professional footballer made the disclosure after almost two decades of glorious football.
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Meanwhile, the revelation was made in an emotional video just days before the expiration of his contract with Galatasaray.
Being 38 years of age, the adage ‘once a footballer, always a footballer’ would ring true for Dries Mertens.
There will indeed be one last dance for him, this time in the testimonial match to be hosted in July by fellow ex-Napoli colleague Marek Hamsik, where fans will bid a final adieu to him.
Over 10 seasons with Napoli, the former PSV Eindhoven’s winger marked his name as the club’s highest-ever goalscorer with 148 goals.
Mertens, who also played for Utrecht in the Netherlands league became the all-time record goalscorer for Napoli with his 148 goals.
Meanwhile, complementing his double Coppa Italia victory, he was also popular for consistency and style.
He had scored 21 times in 109 appearances for the Belgium national team.
Moving to Galatasaray in 2022, Mertens went on to win back-to-back Turkish Super Lig championships.
Currently, the player’s membership with the Red Devils is finished at the FIFA World Cup 2022 group stage.
Nevertheless, he has been a reliable member of the country’s squad.
Mertens hasn’t divulged anything about his future plans, but with such a deep insight into the game, it would be logical to assume either coaching or commentating would be his next job.
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