Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain’s agent has claimed that the Argentine will not renew his contract with the Italian club and is open to leave the club this summer.
Higuain is a subject of interest from a host of European clubs including Atletico Madrid and Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
The 28-year-old was named Serie A’s top scorer last season after scoring a sensational total of 36 league goals, equaling Gino Rossetti’s 87-year-old record for goals in an Italian top-flight season in the process.
Napoli remain reluctant to sell their star striker this summer and despite claims in Italy last week that Higuain will extend his current contract to continue playing in Naples, his agent brother and agent Nicolas Higuain claimed that the former Real Madrid striker will not renew his contract.
Speaking to Radio Continental, Nicolas Higuain said: “We arrived with a Champions League project, of being champions, of growing, and the response of the company was not the most correct.
“It’s their right to ask for his buyout clause, but we will opt for the path of not renewing the contract and he will be free in 2018.
“In these conditions we are going to respect the contract that we have with Napoli but we are not going to renew it under any circumstances. Gonzalo is super professional and will continue to give the maximum.”
Atletico Madrid, who remain favorites to sign Higuain despite severe competition, are hoping to persuade Napoli to sell their talisman this summer or end up bearing with the risk of losing him for free in two years’ time.
The Argentina International reportedly has a £72 million release clause in his contract with Napoli, but Arsenal are also expected to make serious attempts to sign him after facing failure to lure Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy to the Emirates earlier this month.
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