ADL: 'Verdi done, but...'

By Football Italia staff

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis confirms Simone Verdi will sign from Bologna and reveals he has turned down a bid from Manchester City for Jorginho.

The 25-year-old forward has also been linked with the likes of Milan and West Ham United during the close-season, but the Partenopei have won the race for the Italy international's signature.

Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the Azzurri patron said that sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has now ironed out all the details of the transfer.

"Giuntoli did everything yesterday evening with Branchini," De Laurentiis commented.

The film producer also claimed that, contrary to other reports, midfielder Jorginho is not certain to depart for Manchester City and that the club would not stand in Marek Hamsik's way of a move to China.

"I have turned down €45m plus €5m in bonuses from City for Jorginho.

"If Hamsik wants to go to China, we won't stop him. But how much would they give him?"

Napoli have recently replaced former Coach Maurizio Sarri with Carlo Ancelotti - a move which De Laurentiis believes will see Napoli's global profile grow.

"Carlo is the key to the internationalisation of Napoli. He wants to keep 80 per cent of the current squad, he considers it to be of a great level.

"Our targets are a goalkeeper, a full-back, a central midfielder and a winger.

"From 10-31 July Carlo will be able to assess the squad and make some decisions. Then, on 4 August we are in Dublin to play Liverpool and we will see his first Napoli team."

De Laurentiis has been criticised in some quarters for failing to match Juventus' investment as he seeks to win Napoli their first Scudetto since 1990.

"You said I didn't want to win? This year, I have lost €15m when in the previous 13-14 years we have hardly ever registered a loss."

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