In-form Insigne ignoring speculation over Napoli future
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne insisted he is focused on playing amid growing speculation over his future as the Partenopei challenge for the Scudetto.
Insigne led the way with two successful penalties in Napoli's 3-0 win over Bologna on Friday (AEDT) – a result that sent Luciano Spalletti's back to the Serie A summit ahead of Milan on goal difference.
Napoli star Insigne has converted all four of his Serie A penalties this season – no other player has scored more among the players who found the net exclusively via spot-kicks in the top five European leagues.
Insigne also became the first Napoli player in Serie A to score a brace from the penalty spot since Dries Mertens in September 2017.
Afterwards, Insigne was asked about his contract situation, with the Italy international and Euro 2020 winner due to become a free agent at the end of the season.
"You always think about the same thing," Insigne – who emerged from the youth team of boyhood club Napoli in 2010 – told Sky Sport Italia amid links with Inter and Milan. "I only think about playing.
"The president [Aurelio De Laurentiis] and my agent take care of the other things."
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with a stunning long-range goal in the 18th minute – the Spain international has scored the most goals from outside the box in the top five European leagues in the last three seasons (nine since 2019-20) among the players who have not scored a goal from inside the box over this period.
Insigne then scored a penalty four minutes prior to half-time before converting another spot-kick just past the hour at home to Bologna.
Napoli has now collected 28 points after their first 10 Serie A games, equalling its best record at this stage of a top-flight season after 2017-2018.
Eyeing its first Serie A title since 1990, Napoli has won all its first five seasonal home games for the seventh in the club's top-flight history.
"It's a great response, the championship is still long," Insigne said. "We know we are strong. Those who go on the pitch, those who enter off the bench…
"As the coach said, the five changes are even more important, they are five other starters. We must continue like this; the path is long and we must be calm."
