Hirving Lozano was expected to start against Frosinone, replacing the banged-up Khvicha Kvaratshkelia on the left wing. However, he spent the match on the bench. While the early reports indicated an illness as the reason, he wasn’t deployed because he asked to depart through his entourage a few hours before the game, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The Partenopei were caught off guard by the request and especially its timing. The relationship between the parties was already strained due to challenging talks concerning his renewal. The turn of events further deepened the rift.
According to the publication, the Azzurri asked Lozano to accept a €2M pay cut to prolong his contract, which currently runs out in 2024. While Rudi Garcia talked him up during the recent pressers, he risks being frozen out if the situation doesn’t change before deadline day.
Lozano has been linked to a move to Saudi Arabia and was targeted by Los Angeles FC in previous weeks. However, the MLS franchise didn’t offer enough to lure him away. Plus, he wasn’t too enticed by a transfer to the United States in the first place.
Our Take on Napoli and Lozano
All signals point toward an ugly divorce, but his role isn’t large enough for that to be a major bother for the title holders.
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |