Napoli defender Juan Jesus has formally apologized to the club’s supporters and his teammates, admitting his performance in the match against Parma was “not up to my standards.”
The Partenopei’s Scudetto aspirations have been significantly hampered following a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Parma on Sunday afternoon. This result, combined with Inter’s 4-3 victory, has created a nine-point deficit at the top of the Serie A standings.
Juan Jesus had a particularly difficult outing at the Stadio Tardini. He made a costly error that led to the opening goal within just 33 seconds and was subsequently substituted by head coach Antonio Conte at halftime.
Following this setback, the Brazilian defender took to social media to address the Napoli fans.
Juan Jesus Expresses Remorse for Napoli Error
“This is football, making mistakes and having the courage to move forward,” Juan Jesus stated. “Yesterday, my performance was below my usual level, and I take full responsibility for that. I also recognize that overall, this has been one of the best seasons of my career. This is precisely why I hold myself to a higher standard.
“Errors are painful, but they are an inherent part of the journey. We work, we learn, and we return stronger. Our focus always remains on the objective. Forza Napoli always.”
The central defender, who will turn 35 in June, is in the final weeks of his current contract with Napoli. He joined the club as a free agent from Roma in 2021 and has been a part of Italian football since January 2012, having previously played for Inter and Roma.