Diego Demme, former German defender, announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 during an episode of the German podcast “Behind the Athletes”. In his speech he spoke sincerely about his career, the differences between the sporting structures in Germany and Italy and the reasons that led him to leave the field.
According to Demme, Napoli's sports center was surprisingly modest compared to that of Leipzig. “The center was third-class here in Germany: three fields, a very small gym, an even smaller changing room, but everything was dedicated to football,” he explained. He added that, in Italy, training started half an hour earlier, while in Germany an hour and a half earlier was the rule, and that the focus was always on the game. The player also shared a curious episode regarding his diet: after trying to follow a vegan diet in Leipzig, upon his arrival in Naples he ordered oat milk in a bar, arousing amazement among his teammates.
Demme also hinted at a possible future collaboration with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, describing the young striker as "an extraordinary dribbler" who has impressed since his first training session. He joked about a plan to open a pizzeria in Tbilisi together with Kvaratskhelia and Italian pizza chefs, although the comment was more of a funny anecdote than a concrete plan.
The main reason for his retirement, he declared, were two concussions which forced him to suspend football activity and also affected his private life. “If I hadn't had these injuries, I would probably continue to play at Hertha,” he admitted. With this step, Demme closes a chapter in his career, leaving room for new challenges off the pitch.