Netherlands winger Noa Lang admits he was unsuited to playing for Napoli but still has no regrets over the move, saying: "When Antonio Conte wants you, you go."
Lang joined Napoli from PSV in a €25m move last July, having attracted interest from across Europe following a series of dazzling performances in the Eredivisie.
His first season at PSV, in 2023-24, was disrupted by injury, but 2024-25 saw him provide 21 Eredivisie goal involvements (11 goals, 10 assists) – only four players had more that campaign.
However, Lang was limited to just seven Serie A starts for Napoli in the first half of 2025-26, before making a loan switch to Galatasaray in the January transfer window.
He is expected to be named in Ronald Koeman's World Cup squad after helping the Istanbul giants win the Super Lig title, and he admits his move to Napoli did not work out.
"When a great coach like Antonio Conte wants you, you go," Lang told TuttoMercatoWeb. "But sometimes things just go the way they have to go.
"From the start, we played a system that did not include wide attackers. For that reason, I had to take on a different role from the one I had been used to all my life.
"That just did not suit me at all."
There could be plenty of change at Lang's parent club this summer, with Conte heavily linked with a return to the Italy job following the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso.
Reflecting on Conte's training methods, Lang added: "I was used to small tournaments in training, five-a-sides, shooting drills and fun.
"At Napoli we did not see the ball for five days.
"I have absolutely no regrets about my choice. It was a very formative six months.
"Even just the pre-season training camp in the mountains was an experience in itself. But it was not right for me."
Lang will now await the announcement of the Netherlands' World Cup squad on Monday, ahead of their Group F opener against Japan on June 14.