Bad News for Arsenal and Juventus as Napoli president denies offers for Higuain

Milan, July 19: President of Serie A side Napoil, Aurelio De Laurentiis denied that that their striker Gonzalo Higuain has asked to leave the football club.

The club President said in a press conference on Monday that the Argentine has never told him he wants to leave and that no club has agreed to pay his release clause of 94.7 million euros.

De Laurentiis was quoted: "There has never been contact between Juventus and Napoli. The Bianconeri never had any intention of paying the release clause, nor have we asked them to.

"I asked Marotta: 'do you really want to pay the clause?' and he told me they never had any intention of doing so. There's a contract of five years (with Higuain) and we've only had three, the ignorance in the world of football is total.

"There's a release clause, according to which if someone says 'we'll pay it', Higuain can accept the offer from any club and Napoli will only accept those offers.

"The clause was inserted to protect ourselves, because the higher the clause the more someone has to pay. No club has offered it so far and Higuain hasn't said anything."

The Napoli president understably not happy with the rumours which are circulating in the media regarding Higuain's departure.

Sky Sport Italia earlier reported that Juventus have already agreed personal terms with Higuain, offering him a four-year contract.

Top Juventus official also denied reaching an agreement with Higuan.

The official said: "Yes, there's no negotiation for Higuain. De Laurentiis said we won't pay the release clause? I'd say yes, that's how it is. I'd say yes, absolutely.

"It's a closed subject. For now. There's no negotiation with Napoli. I won't add anything else."

Other than Juventus, English Premier League side Arsenal FC too are keen on roping in the forward. Though the asking price is too high, Arsene Wenger hopes to sign the Argentine and strengthen the side which seriously lack a positive striker.

OneIndia News