Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli has, on Monday, spoken out over the club’s summer links to Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The subject of veteran attacker Ronaldo’s future, of course, took its place front and centre in the headlines throughout the recently-closed transfer window.
This came after the Portuguese international made clear to the powers that be at Old Trafford his intention to secure a departure ahead of the new campaign.
A whole host of clubs, in turn, were tipped as potential landing spots for Ronaldo.
And, as alluded to above, one such outfit came in the form of Serie A giants SSC Napoli.
Media speculation pointed towards a potential high-profile swap between the Partenopei and Red Devils, which would have seen CR7 land in Naples, with Victor Osimhen heading in the other direction.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United at the American Express Stadium , Brighton , UK – 7th May 2022 Editorial use only. No merchandising. For Football images FA an Cristiano Ronaldo during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United at the American Express Stadium, Brighton, UK – 7th May 2022. (Alamy Stock Photo)
And, if the latest comments on the part of the transfer team at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona are anything to go by, then it appears as though little legitimate interest in Ronaldo’s signature was ever even expressed by Napoli this summer.
Speaking to the media on Monday evening, Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli was asked directly about the club’s recent links to Ronaldo.
The Italian, though, was quick to assure that, in fact, no ‘real negotiations’ with Manchester United were ever even opened.
Napoli director Giuntoli: “I’m sorry to say that but we’ve never been in real negotiations with Man United to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer”. 🔴🇵🇹 #transfers pic.twitter.com/N217HhS8QH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 5, 2022
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