GENOA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Juan Jesus of Napoli looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 16, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Tuesday marked the final day as Napoli players for both Juan Jesus and Eljif Elmas, with the pair departing as their respective situations at the club came to a close.
The Brazilian defender leaves as a free agent, while Elmas returns to RB Leipzig, the club that holds his registration following his loan spell in Naples.
Aurelio De Laurentiis’s side marked the occasion with warm tributes on their official channels, via Il Corriere dello Sport. Juan Jesus, who arrived in August 2021, departs after 130 appearances and a significant role in the club’s recent success.
Napoli’s farewell message to Juan Jesus and Elmas
“SSC Napoli thanks and says goodbye to Juan Jesus, who has come to the end of his contract with the club,” the statement read. “The most sincere thanks go to Juan Jesus for the professionalism, spirit of self-sacrifice and attachment to the shirt shown throughout his Neapolitan adventure.”
The club accompanied an emotional video with a fitting line: “Five seasons, one way to live them: with heart. Thank you, Juan.” For Elmas, ending his second spell in Naples, Napoli wrote simply: “Naples will always be with you. Good luck, Elif.”
Juan Jesus signs off with 130 appearances, five goals and two assists, having featured 35 times across all competitions last season and contributed to two Scudetti and the Supercoppa Italiana won last December.
Elmas, meanwhile, made 44 appearances in his most recent campaign, scoring once in 33 league outings.
Factoring in his first stint between 2019 and 2024, the North Macedonia midfielder leaves with 233 games, 20 goals and 15 assists in Napoli colours.