Fabian Ruiz could be the latest senior Napoli star to leave the club this summer after extension talks fell apart. According to Calciomercato, the Italians’ last-ditch attempt to convince their standout midfielder to pledge his future to the club came a cropper.
Ruiz’s current contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona runs until the summer of 2023. Like in the case of Kalidou Koulibaly, Napoli are reluctant to lose one of their most prized assets for free. For that purpose, Aurelio De Laurentiis sold the Senegalese defender to Chelsea.
And Ruiz could face the same fate now that he turned down the club’s bid to tie him down to a new deal. With less than a year remaining on his contract, the Spaniard could wave goodbye to Napoli in the coming weeks. Plenty of sides have registered an interest in his services.
Manchester United and Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the former Real Betis man. But the latter are said to be willing to wait another year to sign Ruiz on a free transfer. With Napoli showing no interest in giving up their in-demand playmaker on a free, Los Blancos are out of the race.
Old Trafford could be an ideal landing spot for Ruiz. United’s failed attempt to land Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona has forced Erik ten Hag to seek other alternatives. The Dutch manager likes the 26-year-old, but Juventus could spoil the Red Devils’ party.
Known for their ability to snap up players in the final year of their contracts, the record-time Serie A champions have entered the race for Ruiz. Massimiliano Allegri is in the market for a new deep-lying midfielder, and the Napoli talisman fits the bill.
It remains the be seen whether Napoli would sanction Ruiz’s transfer to their direct Serie A rivals.