Napoli owner calls Higuain’s move a betrayal
Club supporters post pictures of striker’s shirt in the toilet after shock Juventus switch
Gonzalo Higuain “betrayed” Napoli by joining rivals Juventus, claimed club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis despite pocketing €90 million (Dh363.4 million) for the sale of the Argentine striker.
In the most unlikely move of the Serie A summer transfer period, Higuain ended his fairytale three-year spell with Napoli on Tuesday when he agreed to a record five-year deal with the Italian champions that is expected to earn him €7.5 million a year.
As Juventus fans mostly rejoiced, their Napoli counterparts reacted by posting photos of their idol’s Napoli shirt in the toilet. And De Laurentiis, despite a bulging bank account, was not far behind in slamming the 28-year-old striker whose record tally of 36 goals last season took Napoli to the brink of ending their 26-year wait for the Serie A title.
He told Corriere dello Sport: “Some people say that to speak of betrayal is exaggerated, but I think the opposite because there is the full sense of betrayal in this (Higuain) choice because of the ingratitude shown.
“Obviously I have to consider the role played by Juventus, but I expected a different kind of behaviour (from Higuain).”
Higuain was feted as the King of Napoli only two months ago when he broke Gunnar Nordahl’s 66-year-old record of 35 goals in a single Serie A season as the Azzurri battled Juve for a ‘scudetto’ title they last won in 1990. In the end, Napoli finished second but Higuain was undoubtedly the star of last year’s campaign.
Snap decision
De Laurentiis slapped a €94.7 million buyout clause into his contract but when Juventus offered €90 million over two instalments, the Napoli owner buckled.
De Laurentiis conceded the transaction was above board. But he said Higuain’s snap decision to quit Napoli, following advice from his brother and agent, reflected the “unscrupulous” nature of the modern game.
“True, there was the clause so there was no formal impropriety... but the unscrupulous nature of football means there is no respect for sentiment,” added De Laurentiis.
“We understood, as soon as Higuain’s brother spoke, that we might run the risk of having to look for a new centre-forward.
“But we didn’t think that risk was serious, or that he (Higuain) could simply wipe clean his three years spent with Napoli.”
Higuain underwent a medical in Turin yesterday ahead of signing a five-year deal that makes him the third most expensive signing in history after Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is expected to be officially unveiled today.
Napoli already had their sights set on Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, although Polish international Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax) is tipped as a more realistic replacement for Higuain.
Napoli owner