Rafa Benitez welcomed the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli and admitted target Jackson Martinez is “a very strong striker.”
Rafa Benitez welcomed the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli and admitted target Jackson Martinez is “a very strong striker.”
Today Higuain and goalkeeper Pepe Reina passed their medicals, so will complete their transfers from Real Madrid and Liverpool in the next couple of days.
“Higuain is a player who scored, many, many goals,” said Coach Benitez on Sky Sport Italia.
“The club is doing great work, from President Aurelio De Laurentiis to director Riccardo Bigon. We want to create a winning project with more figures to introduce for the next three or four years.
“We are trying to create a strong club for the future, including a new training centre, and with these buys I think we will be even stronger.”
Reports are swirling around on Wednesday evening that Napoli are close to a deal for Porto hitman Jackson Martinez.
He is valued at €35m, but the Partenopei are eager to limit their offer to €30m for the Colombian international. His agents were spotted near the Napoli training camp.
Meanwhile, personal terms have reportedly already been agreed for a five-year contract worth €2m per season.
“Jackson Martinez? I didn't hear properly… You know everything, I don’t talk about the transfer market,” smiled Benitez.
“He is a very strong striker, certainly, but now I am thinking of work with the players I have. I’m talking to Juan Zuniga to understand how he works in Colombia with a four-man defence. It’ll take time, as football is not mathematics.”
Napoli are due to present their new signings on Monday evening ahead of a friendly with Galatasaray at the Stadio San Paolo.