Ulisse Savini, one of Inter captain Mauro Icardi’s representatives, has revealed just how close the Argentine came to joining Napoli in the summer of 2016 following Gonzalo Higauin’s departure from the Partenopei.

“He was very close to Napoli. At that time Inter didn’t even have anyone who could replace him, and they didn’t think Napoli would go so far in the negotiation. Inter therefore preferred to renew his contract, but it was very close. Aurelio De Laurentiis tried right to the end for him. Even when Arkadiusz Milik arrived we had some doubts, but he reassured us and continued to insist. He reached important figures. Let’s say that between Milik and Icardi he’d absolutely have gone beyond what he got for Higuain. More than €60m? Exactly. The President moved directly in person.”

The 25-year-old hitman has been with the Nerazzurri since 2013 and has scored a phenomenal 118 goals in 198 appearances across all competitions and is under contract until the end of the 2020/21 season.