Gonzalo Higuain’s agent discusses Atletico Madrid links – “Diego Simeone is an elite Coach”.
It was announced this week that the Argentinian striker will not sign a new contract with the Partenopei, with two years left to run on his current contract.
Now the player’s brother and agent has given another interview, repeating their unwillingness to commit to the Vesuviani.
Gonzalo Higuain’s agent discusses Atletico Madrid links – “Diego Simeone is an elite Coach”.
It was announced this week that the Argentinian striker will not sign a new contract with the Partenopei, with two years left to run on his current contract.
Now the player’s brother and agent has given another interview, repeating their unwillingness to commit to the Vesuviani.
“The President [Aurelio De Laurentiis] has the right to claim the money [€94m] from the clause, and we have the right not to renew,” Nicolas Higuain reiterated on Marca Radio.
“In 2013 we decided to leave Real Madrid because we wanted a change of scenery. We arrived at Napoli with great enthusiasm, there was an ambitious project with Rafa Benitez at the helm.
“There was talk of structural improvement and competing with Juve. In my opinion though, the project isn’t up to Gonzalo’s level.
“Napoli have given him a lot, and vice-versa, but the project is below expectations right now. It’s fine getting youngsters, but not to compete with Juve.
“Gonzalo will not renew, we’re confident of that given the situation of the project. We have a contract, and we’ll respect it, but we won’t change our opinion.
“I haven’t spoken with any club, we’re not considering the idea of a sale, there haven’t been any concrete offers. There are signatures on contracts, so the club has the right to ask for the clause, just as we have the right to not renew.
“Who could he play for? Currently four or five teams. The great teams in Spain and England, one club in France [Paris Saint-Germain] and one in Germany [Bayern Munich]. Only they can afford him.
“Would he like to play for Simeone? Cholo is an elite Coach, in the last three seasons he’s been to two Champions League finals with a squad inferior to the greats and the only team they’ve failed to beat is Real Madrid, in specific circumstances.
“At the moment he’s trained by [Maurizio] Sarri, who is also a great Coach. We’ll see in the future if Simeone, [Pep] Guardiola or [Antonio] Conte coach him.”
Higuain also gave some further reasons for his client’s unhappiness at Napoli.
“Gonzalo has had wonderful moments in Naples, but also very bad ones.
“After the game against Lazio [the final match of the 2014-15 season where Higuain missed a crucial penalty], we experienced a violent incident with fans which I’m sure they’ll regret now.
“We were in my mothers car, my brother and I, and someone hit the glass and broke it. No-one at the club contacted us to ask how we were.
“Another incident which made us angry was when De Laurentiis publicly called Gonzalo fat.”