‘Napoli were offered Ronaldo’

By Football Italia staff

Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli insists they were offered Cristiano Ronaldo, but “it was a deal that was out of reach”.

The Portuguese star signed for Juventus over the summer, but Partenopei President Aurelio De Laurentiis declared they too had been offered CR7.

“He was offered to us, it’s true,” Giuntoli told Sky.

“We have a good relationship with [agent Jorge] Mendes, and since [Faouzi] Ghoulam’s renewal we speak often.

“He offered him to De Laurentiis and to me, I stayed silent. Then when we looked deeper into it we realised it was a deal that was out of reach.

“Juventus? At the moment they’re the best team in Europe, so it’d be a dream to finish ahead of them. It’s something very difficult, but we must and want to believe.”

Edinson Cavani has been heavily linked with a return from Paris Saint-Germain, but Giuntoli played down that possibility.

“He’s very strong, but I don’t think certain names are consistent with the Napoli philosophy.

“Napoli’s strength has always been to find players with new motivations, to have new Cavanis.”

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