Napoli captain Hamsik completes China move

RO M E : Napoli captain Marek Hamsik has sealed his move to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang, the Serie A side’s lawyer told Italian radio on Wednesday.

“Hamsik is a Dalian player from this evening,” Napoli lawyer Mattia Grassani told Radio Kiss Kiss.

The Slovakian, who is currently in the city where he was born, Banska Bystrica, will arrive in China today.

Napoli had initially suspended the deal because of a problem with agreed “payment methods” with the Chinese club who are coached by German Bernd Schuster.

Gazzetta Dello Sport reported on Wednesday that under the renegotiated deal the €20-million (RM100 million) fee will be paid in two instalments — € 5 million immediately and another €15 million already guaranteed within a year.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis had also demanded additional bank guarantees from the Chinese club.

Hamsik, 31, capped 111 times for Slovakia, has played for Napoli since 2007.

He scored 121 goals in 520 appearances and last season overtook legend Diego Maradona (115) as the club’s record goalscorer.

The three-year deal will reportedly earn him an annual salary of €9 million – three times what he earns in Italy.

Napoli – who last won Serie A in 1990 – are second in Serie A.