Lorenzo Insigne’s agent has complained about Napoli‘s contract extension offer for his client, so Inter, Chelsea and Barcelona have a big chance to sign the Partenopei captain as a free agent.
Insigne’s representative Vincenzo Pisacane revealed Napoli offered Insigne a 50% pay cut to extend his stay at the Stadio Maradona.
“My relationship with De Laurentiis is great, but I must clarify that the contract offer comes with a 50% pay cut. I am an agent and I must defend the captain at any time,” Pisacane said.
“Usually, you offer more money when you want to extend a contract. Just see the treatment for players who extended before Lorenzo.”
The contract of the 30-year-old expires at the end of the season and many top clubs have been linked with securing his services. Among them, Inter, Chelsea and Barcelona.
Inter director Beppe Marotta didn’t confirm or deny the interest for Insigne but ruled out his signing in January.
“Today, we are focused on this group and on our squad, which is largely made up of Italian champions,” Marotta said on Monday.
“The team is responding to our expectations. I don’t think we will make any changes in January, we think about June and investments for the future.”
Insigne will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club in January ahead of a free move at the end of the season.
According to reports in England, Chelsea are ready to sell the likes of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech to make room for the Italian winger who has spent his entire career at Napoli.
However, there haven’t been contacts between the Blues and the Azzurri captain as of today, Football Italia understands.
Back in July, former Barcelona and Milan director Ariedo Braida said the Catalans are long-time admirers of the 30-year-old.
“Many clubs like him, including Barcelona,” Braida told Radio Kiss Kiss.
“He has the right characteristics for Barcelona’s style, but if I were Insigne, I would remain at Napoli.
“It’s always risky to leave a place where you are treated like a king, Insigne should not leave Napoli even if he has the quality to play everywhere.”
It remains to be seen if Insigne will follow Braida’s advice as both him and his agent expect a pay rise, while Napoli are offering him a lower salary than €5m-a-year, which is what he currently gets.
Despite that, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said last week that if Insigne decides to leave, it will be ‘his decision’ and the club would need to accept it.
ADL gives Inter and Chelsea Insigne transfer boost: ‘If he wants to leave…’
Go to MLS – there you can play another 10 years !!
Lazio were interested, he is good mates with Immobile and it’s not so far from home, might struggle on wages tho compared to the bigger clubs