Napoli coach Antonio Conte sees Sam Beukema as a future Dutch international: ‘He has that potential’

What is special is that Beukema has not yet had to concede a goal against his fellow defenders in the Champions League and has not committed a foul in the champions ball, while the defender can also provide nice statistics in terms of meters traveled.

“Those are nice dates, but there are only two matches in the Champions League. I also have to get used to it. It’s very different from last year. It’s a completely different way of playing with Napoli. I always try to keep improving. If I continue with that, I hope to be called up to the national team at some point.”

Conte has seen that Beukema has a big advantage over Noa Lang, who is struggling in his first months in Naples. “His learning period has been easier because he already played in the Italian league and he came to us from Bologna. That is a difference with Noa Lang. Sam was already more used to Italy. He works hard and is doing well, but I still see room to grow, both tactically and physically.”

Beukema enjoys the enormous experience of Napoli fans. “It is a completely different world, especially compared to the Netherlands. But also compared to Bologna, where the passion was already radiating. But in Napoli it is ten times more. In preparation we drove from the complex to the hotel in those minibuses. People jumped in front of those vans for a photo or an autograph. That shows how bad it is and how important Napoli is in the lives of those people. It’s something wonderful to experience. You try to absorb it all, but we have already played quite a few matches and you quickly get involved again. Then it almost becomes normal again. Sometimes you have to be reminded of it by the people around you, but it’s great.”

Disappointment for Napoli towards Champions League clash with PSV

Beukema won twice with AZ in the Philips Stadium. “Very nice to be back in the Netherlands. That was a while ago. It is great to be back in the Philips Stadium as a Napoli player. I’m looking forward to that and Noa certainly is too, because he only left here so recently.”

PSV coach Peter Bosz had indicated earlier in the day that he did not have such a good memory of Beukema. “I have had very bad experiences with that. My son (Gino Bosz, ed.) played football for Go Ahead in the first team and Beukema played my son out. My son said: ‘this is a really good player’. It shows, because he has built a great career.”

Sam Beukema: ‘I liked what Peter Bosz said’

Beukema looked back on Bosz’s statement with a smile. “In the first season under John Stegeman, Gino actually played everything. That was the season after which I actually wanted to leave Go Ahead. But then I stayed and then there was the competition with Gino. Eventually I played a few matches and my development continued. I had very good experiences with Gino and he was a very good player, especially on the ball, but in the end that’s how things go in football. I liked what trainer Peter Bosz said.”

Peter Bosz in the run-up to the Champions League match with Napoli: ‘Bad experiences with Sam Beukema’

Beukema feels like a fish in water at Napoli. “It is a completely different world, especially compared to the Netherlands. But also compared to Bologna, where the passion was already radiating. But in Napoli it is ten times more.”