Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has delivered a verdict on the future of Kalidou Koulibaly and Dries Mertens at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. In an interview with Calciomercato, the Partenopei bigwig also offered a cryptic response to his rumoured pursuit of Paulo Dybala.
Napoli failed to extend Merten’s contract. Though many expected the club’s all-time top goalscorer to move on, the Partenopei have other ideas. Per De Laurentiis, they have offered the Belgian forward a short-term extension and are still waiting for the answer.
“It’s up to Mertens. The ball is in his court. We have offered him €2.5m-a-year wages, which is a good salary,” De Laurentiis said.
Lorenzo Insigne left Napoli to link up with Major League Soccer franchise Toronto FC. Matteo Politano could soon follow him through the exit door, with three sides showing ambition to lure him away from southern Italy. That has led the Partenopei to accelerate their interest in Udinese star Gerard Deulofeu.
“Deulofeu? We are working on his signing,” De Laurentiis confirmed ongoing talks with the Dacia Arena outfit.
Meanwhile, Koulibaly’s future has been making headlines for quite a while. Napoli have already played down the prospect of selling their prized asset to Juventus. Several top foreign clubs have registered their interest in the Senegalese defender. But they seem keen to get him to put pen on a new deal.
“In addition to being a great player, Koulibaly has proved to be a great person. For us, keeping him as a player and captain is the most important thing in the world.”
Last but not least, Napoli have emerged as the latest candidates in a keenly-contested race for Dybala. The Argentine ran down his contract at Juventus and is now free to choose his next destination on his own accord. Inter were long in the driver’s seat to keep him in Serie A, but De Laurentiis could spoil the party.
“Dybala? The ways of the Lord are endless,” he tickled the imagination of the Napoli fans.