Mauro Icardi has definitively turned down the chance to join Napoli, FcInterNews.it reported tonight.
The Partenopei offered the striker a five-year deal worth €7.5 million plus bonuses per season during a meeting in July.
Aurelio De Laurentiis and his sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli have since spent more than a month trying to get Icardi to consider the proposal, but their charm offensive has proved unsuccessful.
Icardi confirmed to Napoli today that his intention was still to wait for an offer from Juventus, but he is still not fully sold on the idea of leaving Inter at all.
Napoli’s bid to sign Icardi has received extensive media coverage in recent weeks, but the Azzurri have never represented anything more than a Plan B for Maurito.
Carlo Ancelotti called the Argentine twice to explain Napoli’s plans and assure Icardi he would be their star player for years to come, but not even this was enough to create an opening.
Juventus have offered Icardi slightly more than Napoli, guaranteeing the 26-year-old an annual salary worth €8 million after tax until 2024.
But Inter’s €60-70 million asking price means it is by no means certain they will reach a deal with the Bianconeri.
Fabio Paratici is confident Inter do not want to keep Icardi at the club for an entire season and remains hopeful of a last-minute discount.
Inter might ask Juve to give them Paulo Dybala in a swap deal, although the clubs remain €15 million apart on their valuations for Icardi and La Joya should negotiations begin in earnest.
Icardi is now certain to be contracted with either Inter or Juventus for the 2019-20 season, despite Inter’s vain hopes he would eventually agree to join Napoli.
He is still confident he can win his place back in Inter’s starting XI this year, assuming Antonio Conte and Beppe Marotta give him another chance from September onwards.
“Maurito is a proud type who will not accept Inter’s attempt to discard him like a pair of old boots,” FcIN reported.
“As it turns out, the fire of revenge is burning inside him towards those who, in his opinion, have held him hostage and tossed him aside in the last few months.”
Icardi had interest abroad from the likes of Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco this summer, but none ever stood a proper chance of signing him.
The forward also received offers further afield from Boca Juniors, Beijing Guoan and David Beckham’s new MLS franchise Inter Miami, all of which were rejected out of hand.
Roma came forward with the idea of a cash-plus-player deal involving Edin Dzeko in early August, but the Giallorossi were never serious competitors in the race.
Icardi was unlikely to have accepted a move to the capital anyway, given his unchanged desire to win back at Inter what he still believes is rightfully his.
