Mario Rui has informed Napoli that he is ready to walk away after failing to agree a new contract even with a reduced salary, confirmed his agent. ‘There was a vivacious exchange of ideas.’
There had been reports late last night that the negotiations to extend his contract had failed and the Portuguese veteran had put in a transfer request.
Now his representative Mario Giuffredi has spoken and assured this was not something they were eager to make happen at all.
“I want to clarify that Mario Rui wants to continue at Napoli and that has always been his intention,” the agent told TVPlay.
“We asked to extend the contract by one year, accepting a small reduction in salary, which in itself is initial considering after a Scudetto victory there tends to be an increase in wages. Our proposal shows the love that he has for Napoli.
“I had informed President Aurelio De Laurentiis of our intentions, but after many meetings in person and on the telephone, including with a vivacious exchange of ideas, I can only assume De Laurentiis failed to understand the value of my client.
“This is absurd considering the statistics that show Mario Rui is one of the best full-backs in Serie A. I told the President, Mario Rui and the coach that if proposals are to arrive, we will ask for a transfer.
“If a convincing project does not arrive, then he will be only another unhappy player in a squad full of them.”
Mario Rui has been at Napoli since 2017, when he arrived initially on loan and then on a permanent basis from Roma.
He just turned 32 and last season contributed eight assists in 28 competitive games for the Partenopei.
If Mario Rui should leave the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, a potential destination is Lazio, where he would reunite with former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri.
The left-back has played 199 matches in the Napoli jersey, scoring three goals and providing 24 assists.