Napoli, Beukema: "Collapse into bed after Conte’s training, he knows me" | OneFootball

The Dutch defender of Napoli spoke to Cronache di Spogliatoio, sharing anecdotes, his adaptation to the new reality, and the intense work under the guidance of Antonio Conte.

Napoli, Beukema: “Collapse in bed after Conte's training. He knows me better than I know myself”

In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Sam Beukema, the new defender of Napoli, revealed interesting behind-the-scenes details about his adaptation in blue, his relationship with Antonio Conte, and his still fresh memories of his experience at Bologna.

“Conte? He knows me almost better than I know myself”

Arriving at Napoli during a summer of great changes, Beukema immediately sensed the determination of the new technical direction:

“These days, as soon as I touch the bed, I collapse. No video games or Netflix, just sleep. Conte's training sessions are tough, but that's how it should be. When he called me before the transfer, he showed me that he knows me almost better than I know myself. These are things that deeply affect and motivate you.”

The Lecce-born coach, known for his intensity and all-encompassing approach, has already won over the Dutchman, who emphasizes how the level required is high but stimulating.

The first days in retreat: the understanding with Marianucci and the support of teammates

In the Dimaro retreat, Beukema shared a room with the young Marianucci:

“The staff made the choice, but I already knew him as an opponent. We faced each other even in the Coppa Italia semifinal.”

Crucial for integration was the support of the new teammates, especially the veterans with international experience:

“Lang, De Bruyne, Lukaku, and even the Scots helped me a lot to fit in. In Bologna, I was close to Ferguson, so as soon as I arrived here, McTominay and Gilmour already knew which side to be on. Billy is an incredible character.”

The bond with Bologna is not over

Despite the transfer, Beukema is still connected to the Bologna environment:

“I'm still in the Bologna chat groups. I just found out that Lea, De Silvestri's daughter, was born: he was crucial for me. When I arrived from the Netherlands, he took me around the city to show me around. It's thanks to people like him that a real group is formed.”

The memory of the Coppa Italia and the injury

Beukema recalled the Coppa Italia final with emotion, even though a blow forced him to stay away from the celebrations:

“Pobega hit me accidentally, and the doctor gave me four stitches. That's why I couldn't join the celebrations with the fans.”

Growth under Italiano and the Dutch legacy

Words of esteem also for former coach Vincenzo Italiano, who coached him at Bologna:

“He improved me a lot in defending and managing duels all over the field. In Italy, I learned to really mark man to man. Italiano shouts more than Conte, but he is an excellent coach and very empathetic.”

On a cultural level, Beukema is also learning about the Dutch tradition in the blue jersey:

“Honestly, I knew little about Ruud Krol, but when I arrived in Napoli, I saw that he was a great Dutch defender here, so I looked up his videos on YouTube.”

However, his references remain others:

“I am inspired by Maldini, Van Dijk, and Ruben Dias. As a child, though, my idol was Ronaldinho: until I was 16, I played as an attacking midfielder. Feyenoord wanted me the year they won the title, and I even went to Slot's house, but I chose to stay at AZ because I felt my journey there wasn't finished.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.