It is well known, all beautiful love stories have an end. A few weeks ago, however, an agreement seemed reached. Dries Mertens would surely prolong his beautiful love story with Naples. Then the negotiations got tense. Discussions too. So much so that the Gazzetta dello Sport announces today that the parties have never been so close to breaking up. “Now it’s a total freeze between Napoli and Mertens. The possibility of them discussing once more around the table has been reduced to a hair”specifies the daily.
The player’s salary is still the crux of the matter. De Laurentiis offers him 5 million a year until the end of June. A good salary for a 35-year-old player. If he wants to extend, the winger will therefore have to make sacrifices. Yes, but how much? Here is the question that the various parties are asking.
This Sunday, a rumor had reported a proposal of 4 million euros net per year sent by the lawyers dealing with the affairs of the Devil at the club. A proposal brushed aside by the management. “A figure that the Neapolitans have not denied. While the player’s entourage ensures that it is not the sums mentioned.” According to the Gazzetta, Mertens would agree to divide his salary by two … over two years. Or 2.5 million euros net per season during this period. De Laurentiis, he would like to prolong the pleasure for only one season. Who is telling the truth? Difficult to answer the question. One thing is certain, the time of the end of the contract is approaching. On June 30, Drieske will be free as the air.
Dries Mertens is courted
Currently, Mertens is a bit stuck. Because the Neapolitans also have a clause to renew the contract of his player automatically. However, there is almost no chance that De Laurentiis activates it. Quite simply because it would oblige him to pay it under the same conditions as this year. Which would have no interest for his club. This clause also prevents Mertens from actually signing elsewhere. It will therefore be necessary to wait for the end of his contract to see him, possibly, sign in another club.
The good news is that the idol of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium is courted. And its future might be in the Eternal City. Besides thein Lazio which we had already talked regarding, it is AS Roma who would look into his case. The two Roman clubs have the same asset: an important man on the bench. Lazio can play emotionally with Maurizio Sarri, the coach who allowed Mertens to take on another dimension in Serie A. While the Giallorossi have, with José Mourinho, a man and a coach apart.
Roma need to make room anyway before possibly making a bid. With the planned departure of Mkhitaryan for Inter, the club also wants to downsize and separate from elements like Eldor Shomurodov (bought 20 million euros), Carles Perez or El Shaarawy. The idea would be for Mertens to play the supersubs and surround young players like Zaniolo or the Ghanaian nugget Felix-Afena Gyan.
