Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne has heaped praise on Everton boss Rafa Benitez, saying the Spaniard ‘completed’ him.
Insigne managed 79 appearances under Benitez when the Spaniard was in charge of Napoli between 2013 and 2015, scoring 11 goals and registering 17 assists.
It was hardly a successful period for the Italian forward, who has been a star for Napoli for several years and racked up impressive numbers for the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Gennaro Gattuso and Maurizio Sari during his time.
It seems, though, he still thinks highly of the now Everton boss, praising him in a recent discussion about his former managers.
“Zeman was the first coach to believe in me, Benitez completed me because before I had always thought that football for me was just about attacking,” Calciomercato report him saying to Undici.
“Football with Sarri is joy: I’ve had a lot of fun in three years; we were only left with the disappointment of not winning the Scudetto.
“Ancelotti? It’s not true that we didn’t get on. We had different ideas, but on the pitch. I owe a lot to Gattuso; he was good at getting me back on track and motivating me.
“Spalletti has a strong personality; he made us aware of our strength.”
It’ll now be interesting to see if Insigne fancies a reunion with Benitez at Everton in the coming months.
His contract at Napoli expires in June next year, meaning he is free to negotiate with clubs in the January transfer window.
Everton have been linked on several occasions already, with their interest in the striker first made apparent in the summer.
Since then, there have been a steady slew of rumours about them making a move, and it stated they were ‘in the running’ last month.
That was followed by claims they had presented an offer to the forward, although there has been nothing since then.
With Insigne now singing Benitez’s praises, though, perhaps that is him opening the door for the Spaniard to make a move and secure a reunion.
