Slovakian has started season with four goals in two games.
Napoli boss Rafa Benitez believes that if Real Madrid star Gareth Bale is worth €100m, then midfielder Marek Hamsik is priceless.
Club captain Paolo Cannavaro has been dropped to the bench for the opening games of the season, and the 26-year-old has been handed the armband in his absence and has revelled in his new role in Benitez’s system.
With both Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani leaving over the past two years, Hamsik recently quashed speculation that he might follow suit as he feels “at home” in Naples.
He has started the new season with four goals in two games, and Benitez is delighted with the midfielder’s contribution and believes that while it is difficult to put a price on him, he is without a doubt not for sale.
“If Bale is worth €100m? Well, then I say that Hamsik is priceless and not for sale,” Benitez told Sport Mediaset as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Benitez also went on to discuss his objectives for this season, having made a strong start to the Serie A campaign where they are expected to challenge Juventus for the Scudetto, they have been presented with a tough Champions League group consisting of Arsenal, Dortmund and Marseille.
“We should not be afraid of anyone. President [Aurelio] De Laurentiis has shown confidence in me,” he added.
“The Champions League group in which we have found ourselves is one of the hardest, certainly the most balanced. We begin with Dortmund which will be tough, because they were the runners-up last year, but if we pass the group stage, then anything can happen”.
Benitez has a big squad at his disposal this season and intends on using it to rotate in order to keep his players fresh and capable of challenging on all fronts.
It remains to be seen how successful the Spanish tactician will be in his first year in Naples, but he has unquestionably made a bright start.
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