De Laurentiis: Kvaratskhelia threatened, PSG bid €200m for duo | OneFootball

Aurelio de Laurentiis has revealed a backstory about the transfer of Kvaratskhelia, explaining the reason for his departure during the last January transfer window.

“PSG had offered more than 200 million euros for him and Osimhen, but I had made a promise to Conte”

De Laurentiis reveals: “Kvaratskhelia threatened by the agent, PSG offered 200 million for him and Osimhen”

The backstory: double transfer fell through and the dream of Gyokeres

Aurelio De Laurentiis speaks again about the recent past of Napoli, revealing backstories that could have deeply changed the fate of the club. In an interview given to the weekly 7 of Corriere della Sera, the president talked about a negotiation that never materialized: the block sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen to Paris Saint-Germain for over 200 million euros, with the aim of reinvesting in Viktor Gyokeres.

The offer from PSG and the promise to Conte

“At the end of the second contractual year of Kvaratskhelia we went to Düsseldorf with Giovanni Manna and Chiavelli to define the renewal,” explains De Laurentiis. “PSG wanted both him and Osimhen, and with those funds I could have bought Gyokeres. However, I had promised Conte that we would keep Kvara, and I did not feel like betraying that commitment.”

The tensions with the agent and the threat of Article 17

According to the president, the main issue was the relationship with the Georgian's agent, Mamuka Jugeli: “He kept stalling, claiming that Giuntoli had promised him money that was never paid, an easily refutable falsehood. He even threatened to resort to Article 17 to free the player.”

Despite an offer of renewal with improved salary, the break was now inevitable. The transfer took place last January, with Kvaratskhelia moving to PSG mid-season.

A Napoli still victorious

Despite the turmoil, Napoli managed to win the fourth Scudetto of its history, thanks to the work of Antonio Conte. “Many years ago I met him in the Maldives,” De Laurentiis recalled. “He is tireless at work, just like me. Controversial? I would say visionary. We both share the same dedication and that makes the difference.”

Vision and control: the De Laurentiis philosophy

The president concluded with a reflection on his own managerial approach: “At 34 I felt ready to say: 'from now on we do as I say'. So far, I must say, it has worked.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.