´I will come back here, this is my home´ – Insigne bids tearful farewell to Napoli ahead of Toronto

Lorenzo Insigne pledged to return to Napoli after scoring on his final home appearance for the club, having agreed to join Toronto FC at the end of his contract next month.

The 30-year-old scored from the penalty spot as Napoli secured a top-three finish in Serie A with a 3-0 win over Genoa on Sunday, taking his tally to 122 goals in all competitions for the club he joined as a 15-year-old in 2006.

That goal made Insigne the second-highest goalscorer in Napoli’s history in his own right, moving him clear of Marek Hamsik’s tally of 121. Only team-mate Dries Mertens, with 148, has scored more goals for the club.

Insigne has scored nine penalties in Serie A this season, more than any other player in the top-five European leagues, and has hit double figures for both goals (13) and assists (10) in all competitions in his final season with Luciano Spalletti’s side.

After the full-time whistle, Insigne was in tears as he told DAZN that Napoli was his “home”. 

“I thank all the fans who came to the stadium today to cheer me on, as a Neapolitan it is an immense joy,” he said. “In time, the first thing I will do is come back here, this is my home, and you never forget home.

“The love for the city and the jersey is too strong. There are also moments in which choices have to be made. 

“Unfortunately, the club and I made this choice, we are happy, both me and them.

“I gave everything, I have no regrets. The fans have always shown me their affection for me, I will always carry it inside.”

9 – Lorenzo #Insigne has scored 9 goals from penalty spot in the current Serie A campaign, more than any other player in the Big-5 European Leagues 2021/22. Goodbye.#NapoliGenoa

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 15, 2022

Insigne refused to comment on whether he would have preferred to end his career with the Naples club, however, stressing that he simply wished to enjoy his send-off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

“Now I don’t feel like saying these things, I made my choice and the club theirs. We are fine like this. I just want to enjoy this moment,” he said.

“Even if I go far away my heart is here. I will come to see Napoli in the stands as soon as possible because this is my home.”