Italian Football Club Joins Juventus, Arsenal in Fray To Sign Gonzalo Higuain
Napoli has finally confirmed their interest in signing Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, who's also drawing interest from English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal and Italia Serie A giant Juventus.
The 25-year-old Higuain is still left unsigned months after the start of the transfer window period. The Real Madrid striker is one of the most coveted players available right now with several teams, including Arsenal and Juventus, showing their interest to take his service.
Arsenal was reported as the frontrunner to sign Higuain, but Juventus suddenly sneaked in as another suitor for the prolific Argentine goal scorer. However, sources reported that Napoli has emerged as the new contender to sign Higuain.
Napoli recently sold Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain for a whopping 64.5 million euro, boosting their total budget to 124.5 million euro. Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis confirmed they are really after Higuain, whom they believe could thrive under the tutelage of newly hired coach Rafael Benitez.
"With the €64.5 million (from the Cavani sale) and the €60 I had budgeted, that means we have €124.5 to invest in Napoli with diligence and experience," De Laurentiis tweeted, according to ESPN FC.
Higuain collected 107 goals in 187 appearances with Real Madrid and amassed 20 goals as a member of the Argentina national football team.
At the end of the 2012-2013 football season, the Argentine expressed his intention to leave Real Madrid and play with a new ball club.