New Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri says Gonzalo Higuain is ‘central to our project’, despite talk of an exit.
The Partenopei will be without Champions League football for a second consecutive season, and the striker has been linked with the likes of Arsenal.
“He’s central to our project,” Sarri insisted in an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.
New Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri says Gonzalo Higuain is ‘central to our project’, despite talk of an exit.
The Partenopei will be without Champions League football for a second consecutive season, and the striker has been linked with the likes of Arsenal.
“He’s central to our project,” Sarri insisted in an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.
“He’s a strong and unpredicatable player, he has extraordinary qualities in linking up with his teammates in attack.
“So far I don’t think he’s shown his full potential, he still has room for improvement. I really hope I can pull even more out of him.”
Sarri also discussed the Vesuviani’s two signings of the summer so far, Mirko Valdifiori and Pepe Reina.
“Reina? I have a lot of respect for him. I talked to him for about 15 minutes. He seems to me to be a great person, intelligent and outspoken. It might be possible to have a fight with him, but he gave me the impression of being a very loyal man.
“As for Valdifiori, [who Sarri worked with at Empoli] most likely he’d still be at Napoli with another Coach. The club had already been following him for some time.
“He’s a player who can speed up the growth of the team with my ideas. I’m also very glad Jorginho is staying, he’ll help us a lot, I’ve spoken to him and assured he’ll be in a midfield three.
“He still hasn’t shown his true level.”
Sarri ended with a message to the Napoli fans, promising to give his all for the club.
“I want to approach this in a completely humble manner,” Sarri explained.
“That’s how it should be for someone who is coming from a lower level. The other message is one of commitment.
“I don’t know if I’ll be a great Coach of a team of this level, but I’ll give my all. That I can promise.”