Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has finally revealed why he rejected Paris Saint-Germain’s over €100m bid for Victor Osimhen.
He said it was because of a promise he made to incoming head coach Antonio Conte.
De Laurentiis told Corriere della Sera that PSG had offered more than €200m for Osimhen and and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as a package deal, but he declined to sell because he had promised Conte he would keep the players at the club.
“I could have sold him at that moment. PSG had offered over €200m for the Kvara and Osimhen package,” De Laurentiis said.
“However, I had promised Conte I would keep him, and I didn’t feel like going back on my word. With those funds, the idea was to buy Gyokeres.”
He however claimed that Kvaratskhelia’s eventual departure to PSG in January for €75m was forced by his agent’s demands and threats to use Article 17.
Osimhen helped Napoli to a historic 2022/23 Serie A title triumph, their first in 33 years.
The Nigerian goal poacher was the league’s top scorer that season.
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