NAPOLI PRESIDENT AURELIO De Laurentiis says he rejected a bid worth €50million from Manchester City for midfielder Jorginho.
The Italy international’s agent said this week that City had submitted an offer to the Serie A runners-up, with the Premier League champions apparently keen to conclude a deal promptly.
However, De Laurentiis claims he has turned down a sizeable offer for the 26-year-old, suggesting City will have to return with an increased bid.
“I’ve refused €45million plus a €5million bonus from City for Jorginho,” he told Corriere dello Sport.
De Laurentiis also confirmed he expects Napoli to sign Simone Verdi from Bologna.
The 25-year-old forward, who has also been linked with AC Milan and West Ham, will reportedly cost €25m if the deal goes through.
When asked about Verdi, De Laurentiis said Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli “did everything yesterday [Friday]” to finalise terms with the player’s agent.
De Laurentiis hopes to make further additions to the squad before Carlo Ancelotti takes charge of his first match since being appointed head coach.
“From July 10 to July 31, Carlo will be able to assess the entire squad and make decisions,” he said. “On August 4, we’ll be in Dublin with Liverpool, and we’ll see his first Napoli team.
“He wants to keep 80 per cent of the current group. He thinks it’s excellent. Our aims are a goalkeeper, a full-back, a midfielder and a winger.”
However, the 69-year-old claimed he would not stand in the way of Marek Hamsik if the midfielder accepts an offer from the Chinese Super League.
“If Hamsik wants to go to China, we won’t stop him, but how much will they give?” he said.
De Laurentiis had warned this week that he would demand an appropriate fee for Hamsik, who is reportedly wanted by Shandong Luneng.
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This stinks of “Jobs for the Boys” to b honest. Has Micko done much at underage/schools/club level (genuine question)?
Denis.List’s his experience right there in the article. Leinster have made a similar appointment with Cullen next season
And Cullen will be working with the Senior squad, Micko is looking after the A side.
Micko hopefully can pass on his great technical knowledge especially lineout work. As you say thou the back’s coach appointment is the crucial one
With POC still in situ ,it’s really hard to see what MOD could possibly bring after a stint coaching at schools level. This smacks of a very Munster job for one of the boys
Not a fan of players that r just retired nd then fall in coaching same players….can cloud decisions., for example is mick goin to recommend a player that he was great friends with to be dropped if his form is poor….???
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
Yea retired two years but not too many guys he wouldnt have trained or played with.It could be a great appointment but personally I wouldnt agree.
The impressive Rob Penney was shafted by the Munster Rugby board in order to make way for their good old boy, Anthony Foley, to become head coach; who in turn is intent on employing his good old boys instead of seeking the direct input of those with an enlightened, outside perspective. Group-think will now prevail.
Munster will be the big loser because Foley won’t have the same progressive-minded outlook and plan that Penney has. Munster will regress into their shell under Anthony Foley, and the slack will be compensated for by utter blarney from Foley and the media.
As a Leinster fan I hope your wrong.
If insider knowledge points to foley knowing something that mod can bring then there’s nothing wrong with appointing the right man for the job. If he’s giving his old pal a leg up it will fall apart along with his own career.
I don’t believe Anthony foley wants to throw away his carreer to give his mate a job.
Penney wasnt shafted.
Micko is looking after the a’s. Not first team. Might have little to do with the seniors.
Must be a pisser for Penny to see next years coaching ticket been lined up , could this be announced by Munster after Pennys gone ..
They let the cat out of the bag early enough this year bout him moving. Why should nexus years coaching ticket be any different? I’m sure he doesn’t hold a grudge.
Hope I’m wrong but has a ” jobs for the boys” ring to it
Micko being linked to the A squad hints fairly strongly that Ian costello could be the backs coach for the seniors.
this time last year there was howls about the fact that not one province had a native head-coach, now there’s howls when a native is appointed head coach & opts to select another native to be part of his coaching team?
Micko was known as a top-notch lineout analyst in his playing days, he had a very large part to play in the strength of the munster lineout in the past as he analysed the opposition lineouts & ran those patterns in training.