Lorenzo Insigne open to Napoli exit amid Liverpool and Man City links

Posted Monday, April 08, 2019 by squawka.com

Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne has admitted he could leave the club if the right offer comes in.

Insigne, 27, was named captain after Marek Hamsik joined Chinese club Dalian Yifang in January and has spent his entire career with the Italian club after coming through the youth academy.

Could Insigne leave Napoli? Five key things to know...

1. Insigne has been at Napoli his entire career, though spent various loan moves away as a young star.

2. The Italian has played 298 times for Napoli, scoring 76 goals so far.

3. Insigne was named captain earlier this year after Hamsik left for China.

4. However, Insigne has also been linked with a move away from Napoli, with Liverpool and Manchester City among those reportedly interested.

5. Insigne has now admitted he would consider leaving Napoli, but only if the right offer comes in.

But the Italian, who has been linked with a move to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, has admitted he could follow Hamsik out the door id he receives a satisfactory offer.

"I am 28 years old [this year] and it could happen that I receive an offer I can't refuse," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"I've proved what I am worth and there are people around who appreciate me."

However, Insigne then revealed he was not actively seeking a move away from Napoli and no club has officially made their interest known through concrete approaches.

He added: "Right now, in this phase, I am not even thinking about it.

"However, I know full well that there are those around who appreciate me. But there are no clubs, no approaches, no shows of interest.

"It is my duty to think, without being immodest, that over the years at Napoli I've shown what I can do.

"I know people think I hired Mino Raiola because I was looking for a move, but that is not true, and you are free to think that. I hired Raiola because I consider him to be, along with Jorge Mendes, the best around and a real authority.

"As long as I am at Napoli, I will always give 110 per cent and I want to stay here for a long time."

This is a stance he clarified further prior to Napoli's Serie A game with Genoa on Sunday, unhappy with the way some of his words had been "twisted".

"I never said that I would leave in June," Insigne told Sky Sport Italia, as reported by Football Italia.

"I was just saying that a lot of people thought I hired Mino Raiola because I wanted to leave. I have always said that I am very happy at Napoli and I understand the fans expect more of me.

"I expressed my thoughts, but my words were twisted in the reporting. It hurts to finish second, of course, but we always cause Juventus problems and that makes me and the whole team proud.

"I was quite upset after seeing how the interview and my words were depicted. I have a long contract, there's no rush and there is no release clause.

"I'm happy at Napoli and hope I can continue to help the team."

Insigne: Higuain had a problem with Napoli

Having been at Napoli his entire career, Insigne has been part of some strong Partenopei sides, include the recent one under Maurizio Sarri.

In the 2015/16 season, Insigne formed part of a front three alongside Jose Callejon and Gonzalo Higuain, which yielded 55 goals in Serie A.

Higuain contributed with 36 of those, earning him a move to Juventus, where he continued his good goalscoring form.

However, Insigne has criticised Higuain for the way he returned to Napoli with Juventus.

"I did not appreciate the way he celebrated," Insigne told Corriere dello Sport, as reported by Football Italia.

"Juventus was his choice, he was free to make it, of course, but we met other times and not once - never once - did he come to say hello in the locker room, which would've been a natural gesture.

"That means, therefore, he had a problem with us, his former teammates who helped him score 36 Serie A goals."

Higuain is now at Premier League club Chelsea, on loan from Juventus, and has struggled in London with just three goals in 11 games so far.