Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has shed light on the dramatic transfer saga that saw him turn down a staggering €200 million offer from Paris Saint-Germain for Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, the outspoken club chief revealed that PSG had tabled a package deal for Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, but he stood firm out of loyalty to new head coach Antonio Conte.
“I could have sold him at that moment. PSG had offered over €200m for the Kvara and Osimhen package,” De Laurentiis confirmed. “However, I had promised Conte I would keep him, and I didn’t feel like returning to my word. With those funds, the idea was to buy Gyokeres.”
De Laurentiis went on to clarify the circumstances surrounding Kvaratskhelia’s eventual exit to PSG in January for €75 million, admitting that the move was largely dictated by the player’s agent, Mamuka Jugeli, who pushed for a transfer under threat of invoking FIFA’s Article 17.
“I had to let him go because his agent threatened to use Article 17,” he said. “After the Georgian’s extraordinary first season, we immediately moved to negotiate a contract extension, increasing his salary and offering him a significant sum. However, his agent, Mamuka Jugeli, had other plans for himself and the player.”
The Napoli president accused Jugeli of deliberately stalling negotiations during Euro 2024 in Germany, while also making unfounded claims about broken promises by former sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.
Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia were central figures in Napoli’s unforgettable 2022-2023 Serie A triumph, their first league crown in 33 years. Osimhen finished as the league’s top scorer, while Kvaratskhelia was crowned MVP for his dazzling performances.
But the dream partnership has since been broken. Kvaratskhelia sealed a blockbuster move to PSG in January, while Osimhen completed a permanent transfer to Galatasaray this summer for €75 million after an initial loan spell.
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