Marek Hamsik reportedly agrees to Napoli extension

If current reports are to be believed, there is cause for much celebration among the Napoli fanbase, because reports in Italy indicate that Marek Hamsik has agreed to a contract extension — one that’s being termed as a “lifetime” deal.

Now, FIFA regulations mean that Hamsik can technically only sign until 2021, but given as how he’ll be almost 34 by then, that’s effectively a lifetime deal in sporting terms. He will, at most, have one multi-year deal left in him by that point, but at a much reduced rate and staying in the city that has become his home will be even more attractive than it is now.

Terms of the deal are unknown, but it’s safe to say that Hamsik got a healthy raise, one that will see him be the club’s highest-paid player if Gonzalo Higuain leaves. Napoli take care of their core players, and their captain and legend certainly qualifies for that.

This will also put an end to the rumors that he’s leaving for awhile, and puts the lie to all the reports that Hamsik wanted to leave. All of his quotes about just wanting to get through his vacation before talking to Napoli about an extension were exactly face value, as everything he’s said over the years has been — not some two-faced overture for bigger clubs to come calling like rumor rags were trying to make them out to be.

Marek Hamsik is ours, and you can’t have him.