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Hamšík the pick of the Napoli crop

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Boasting one of the best haircuts in modern football and an exciting array of tattoos, Marek Hamšík has been fêted in his home land as the Slovakian David Beckham, and is on the verge of superstardom in Italy with SSC Napoli.

Marek Hamšík celebrates a goal for Napoli
Marek Hamšík celebrates a goal for Napoli ©Getty Images

'Strongest weapon'
Just 21, the midfielder is Napoli's top scorer this season with four goals, the last of them helping his side earn a 2-1 win against Juventus – a result which for the first time in 16 years put his side top of the table, albeit only for 24 hours. "My goal?" said Hamšík. "I simply used my strongest weapon – my ability to find the best place to put my shot. I was on target again."

Exceptional skills
For those who have watched the Banska Bystrica-born player since he was a teenager, these skills are nothing new. Skilled with both feet and possessing a powerful shot, he continues to improve, with former Bologna FC and Juventus coach Luigi Maifredi saying of him: "He is a world-class player. I believe he is good enough to win the Ballon d'Or one day."

'A true professional'
Hamšik joined Brescia Calcio from ŠK Slovan Bratislava at the age of 17 and impressed Napoli enough to tempt them to pay €7m for him in July 2007, to make him their second most expensive signing after Argentinian legend Diego Maradona. "He is an exceptional player – a true professional," said club president Aurelio De Laurentiis with evident pride.

'They love me here'
Chelsea FC were said to have taken a close interest in him this summer, prompting Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino to tell one Italian newspaper: "We blocked Chelsea's efforts to get him. Now everybody knows that we want him to stay with us." Not least Hamšik himself, who said: "They love me here. Napoli has fantastic fans."

Style icon
"When I came here from Brescia, a thousand fans waited for me and chanted my name," added the stylish Hamšik who counts clothes shopping and tennis among his off-pitch hobbies. "It was thrilling. I made a good decision to go there." It is a decision that is undoubtedly paying off for Slovakia too. Some questioned his form with the national team earlier in his career, but he has been one of the driving forces as Slovakia won three of their opening four FIFA World Cup qualifiers to move to the top of Group 3. Hamšik's trademark celebration of running to the corner flag stroking his hair could yet grace the 2010 World Cup.