Napoli have claimed they will only sell Manchester United and Arsenal FC target Gonzalo Higuain if they are to meet his A?72m buyout clause.
Arsenal FC and Manchester United, both, have been linked with the Argentina player in recent weeks according to reports
But Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said that the player will only leave the club should the interested club offer to pay his buyout fees.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: “Higuain’s future? If a player has a contract this contract has to be respected. If a madman arrives and offers to pay his buy-out clause then one must consider it.”
“Otherwise Pipita (Higuain) will remain here.”
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Higuain had joined Napoli from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 in a 40million euro transfer and is under contract with the Naples outfit for another three seasons.
The South American scored 18 goals and set up seven more in 37 Serie A appearances for Napoli in the 2014/15 campaign but could not help the club finish in the top three in Serie A to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Italian media were reporting that Arsenal FC had made a 40 million Euro offer for Higuain with Napoli holding out for 50 million Euro.
The report suggested that Arsene Wenger had previously shown interest in Higuain, but failed to bring the Argentine striker from Real Madrid two years ago when he moved to Napoli for 40 million Euros and has again joined race for bringing the striker to London.
With Napoli not in the Championa s League, and Spanish manager Rafael Benitez who bought him from Real Madrid moved on, Higuain could be open to a move to the London outfit.
Manchester United are also on the hunt for a forward with Radamel Falcao loan deal not made permanent and Robin van Persie’s future increasingly uncertain. Reports had linked Manchester United with a move for Higuain.
Surely, though, the price tag of 72 million pound means, both, Arsenal FC and Manchester United will look elsewhere with options aplenty should the clubs decide to part with that sum.