Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed the reason behind his decision to reject a staggering €200 million offer from Paris Saint-Germain for star players Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Speaking in an interview with Corriere della Sera, De Laurentiis disclosed that PSG had submitted a package deal worth over €200m for the Nigerian striker and the Georgian winger. However, he refused the offer out of loyalty to new head coach Antonio Conte, who had been assured that the players would remain at the club.
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“I could have sold him at that moment. PSG had offered over €200m for the Kvara and Osimhen package,” De Laurentiis said. “However, I had promised Conte I would keep him, and I didn’t feel like going back on my word. With those funds, the idea was to buy Gyokeres.”
Despite that decision, Kvaratskhelia eventually moved to PSG in January for €75m following pressure from his agent, who threatened to activate Article 17 of FIFA’s regulations to terminate the player’s contract.
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“I had to let him go because his agent was threatening to use Article 17,” De Laurentiis added. “After his incredible first season, we offered him a contract extension with a big pay rise, but his agent had other plans.”
Negotiations reportedly dragged on during the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, where Kvaratskhelia’s representatives allegedly made false claims about unpaid promises from Napoli’s former sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli.
Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia were key figures in Napoli’s historic 2022/23 Serie A title win, the club’s first in 33 years. The Nigerian striker was the league’s top scorer, while the Georgian winger was named MVP of the season.
Both players have now left the club, with Osimhen completing a permanent move to Galatasaray for €75m after a loan spell, and Kvaratskhelia sealing his high-profile transfer to PSG.
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