Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis appeared to concede defeat in the club’s pursuit of Inter striker Mauro Icardi this morning.

The Partenopei tried to sign Icardi in 2016 but were unable to convince Inter to begin talks for a deal.

Juventus are now the club most heavily linked with a move and De Laurentiis admitted Napoli would struggle to turn Maurito’s head away from the Bianconeri.

“We can’t dispute Icardi as a player but he will always want to join Juventus,” De Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport.

“I get the impression from afar that he’s managed himself poorly and hasn’t understood the importance of the position he fulfills.

“Icardi is incredible and you can’t deny his talent, but there’s been so much said about him that he now seems older than 26.”

De Laurentiis dismissed claims Napoli were prepared to swap Icardi with Lorenzo Insigne, pointing out how the Azzurri already had Arkadiusz Milik and Dries Mertens up front.

“I agree with Carlo Ancelotti in that I prefer Lorenzo to Icardi,” he continued.