Reported Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain has rejected a new contract with Napoli, it has been confirmed, handing the Gunners a massive boost if they are to pursue the Argentine.
Higuain was heavily linked to Arsenal in 2013 before the Naples side, then managed by Rafael Benitez, blew Arsenal out of the water and captured him from Real Madrid.
However, Higuain’s future has been shrouded in speculation since Benitez left for the vacant at Real and the club’s lack of Champions League football for the forthcoming season may also prove problematic.
Higuain’s agent and brother, Nicolas, confirmed last night that the offer presented by Napoli had been rejected after not being considered ‘real’.
“We had a meeting with the president [Aurelio De Laurentiis] in Venice 10 days ago,”
“We talked about everything. He offered a one-year contract extension, however, in my opinion – and in our opinion – we’ll continue with the original contract, expiring in 2018.”
“I don’t think we’ll accept the president’s offer, because the contract isn’t that different from the one we signed before, so for us it’s not a real offer.”