Napoli break silence over ‘important’ Alejandro Garnacho transfer after Man Utd reject bid | Football
Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has described Alejandro Garnacho as an ‘important player’ but insists the club will only make a move for the Manchester United winger on their own terms.
Antonio Conte’s side, who are six points clear at the top of Serie A after their 3-2 win against Atalanta on Saturday night, are in the market to sign a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in a €70 million (£58.9m) deal this week.
Garnacho has been identified by Napoli as their first-choice replacement for Kvaratskhelia, however, the Italian side are far apart from United in their valuation of the Argentina international.
It’s understood that United are holding out for a £70m fee for Garnacho, meanwhile, Napoli are looking to secure a deal closer to €50m (£42.1m). Reports this week have claimed that Napoli’s opening offer was rejected by United.
Chelsea have also made an approach for Garnacho, who has scored eight goals in 31 appearances for United this season.
When asked directly about Napoli’s potential move for Garnacho, Manna said on Saturday evening: ‘We are making some assessments, he is an important player, but he is not ours.
‘We must not get carried away even if we know that an important player has left, a top player as the manager defined him and therefore the expectations are high. But we will do something on Napoli’s terms.’
Speaking about Napoli’s decision to sell Kvaratskhelia, Manna said: ‘The team is reacting well, already last week the player did not want to come to the match and had excluded himself. The coach is able to unite the group and they already knew about the situation.
‘You have to ask him what he has to tell us. I can say that the player has asked to be sold.
‘We were working on the renewal which was not easy, but it was well underway. His salary requirements were clearly not at our level and did not match.
‘The choice was forced, we wish him the best, he is the past even if he wrote great pages for Napoli.’
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