Edinson Cavani has no interest in returning to Napoli if he's past his prime.
The Italian side continues to hold a special place in Cavani's heart following his three years in Naples, where he emerged as one of the top forwards in the world ahead of his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
The Uruguay international reaffirmed his love for the city during an event in Naples. He also hinted at a possible return but insisted he would only do so if he's still able to compete with the world's best.
"I'm so emotional, I cannot find the words," Cavani said, as translated by Ben Gladwell of ESPNFC, during an event in Naples where he was honoured as the best foreign player for 2017. "It's beautiful to come back here, where each Sunday I fought so hard for this shirt and felt such strong emotions,"
"I would move back to Italy, but only to Napoli. I speak with respect for all of the clubs I played for, but all of my family and those who know me already know that this is where I left part of my heart.
"When I left, I said that if things changed a bit, I would like to come back to Napoli, but I want to come back here while I am still playing at a high level. I don't want to come back to Napoli when my footballing days are ending - it's going to be me who decides when I retire, so when I come back, I will still be in form."
A move to Napoli might be some time away considering that Cavani agreed to a contract extension with PSG and said a reunion may be possible in 2020 when his deal expires.
Cavani, 30, led Serie A in scoring during one of his three seasons, scoring 29 goals during the 2012-13 campaign, and is fresh off winning the scoring title in France after finding the back of the net 35 times.