- 23 hours ago
Napoli make OFFICIAL Garnacho statement
Robin Bairner
- 24 Jan 2025 00:44 CST
- 3 min read
Napoli have reacted to transfer claims made in relation to Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho.
The Serie A club are one of the clubs interested in signing the Argentina international winger this month but face competition from Chelsea to land the 20-year-old.
It came as some surprise, then, that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis was quoted in the media as having said: “Who can guarantee to me that he’s going to score 20 goals?”
The line spread like wildfire, with football transfer news reporter Fabrizio Romano among those to pick it up.
STATS
Alejandro Garnacho
F (L), M (RL)
Man Utd
Alejandro Garnacho
F (L), M (RL)
Man Utd
Napoli, though, have issued a response indicating that De Laurentiis, who was speaking at the Circolo Canottieri nautical club, did not slander Garnacho in such a manner.
“The alleged phrase attributed to the president about Garnacho is considered to be completely unfounded,” the Serie A leaders claim.
This is echoed by Circolo Canottieri president Giancarlo Bracale: "De Laurentiis never talked about the transfer market. He was happy and excited to talk about the challenge against Juventus. But he never gave that answer to a Garnacho question, in my presence."
Alejandro Garnacho transfer race heats up
De Laurentiis' quotes spread as news of a formal bid from Chelsea to Man Utd for Garnacho began to emerge.
The Stamford Bridge side have offered the Red Devils something in the region of €60m, with the BBC reporting that Enzo Maresca’s side are ‘seriously interested’ in the player.
Napoli have also had a bid knocked back for the player, yet this is thought to have been in the region of €50m – a reflection of their lesser economic power compared to their Premier League rivals for the player.
The Serie A club are seeking a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who completed a blockbuster €70m switch to PSG this month, the second-biggest deal of the January window behind Omar Marmoush’s switch to Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Garnacho, who prefers a move to Napoli ahead of Chelsea, continues to play a prominent role for Ruben Amorim at United, meanwhile. He was a starter as the Red Devils limped to a 2-1 win over Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday.
