Media Team
Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has revealed why he turned down a huge €200 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain for Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
He shared these details in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
De Laurentiis expressed regret over declining the offer, as Kvaratskhelia’s contract negotiations later became problematic.
“I had to allow him [Kvara] to leave because his agent threatened to invoke Article 17,” De Laurentiis stated, as reported by Di Marzio.
“After his outstanding debut season, we promptly initiated talks to renew his contract, raising his salary and proposing a substantial bonus. However, his agent, Mamuka Jugeli, had different intentions for himself and the player.”
He also mentioned that conflicts escalated before the European Championship in Germany:
“By the end of his second season, the European Championship in Germany was approaching. I traveled to Düsseldorf with Manna and Chiavelli to settle the matter, but Mamuka kept delaying, alleging that Giuntoli had pledged payments that were never made.
“This was false and easily refuted. I could have sold him then. PSG had proposed over €200m for both Kvara and Osimhen. But since I had assured Conte he would stay, I didn’t want to backtrack. With that money, my plan was to sign Gyokeres,” the 76-year-old added.
