Italian agent Mino Raiola has continued his war of words with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis, by insinuating that he bullies his players.
Italian agent Mino Raiola has continued his war of words with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis, by insinuating that he bullies his players.
Raiola does not represent Marek Hamsik, but acts as an advisor to the Partenopei attacker. His recent suggestion that the Slovakian should leave the San Paolo this summer has prompted an angry reaction from De Laurentiis, who has accused him of trying to steal his players.
Raiola has responded to this with further reasoning as to his outburst and with an added observation to the club’s situation with Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan is in contract negotiations with the Vesuviani, but was warned by his President last week not to hold out for unrealistic terms.
“There’s nothing personal between us, I’ve met De Laurentiis only once, after the Champions League game in London [against Chelsea], I like him,” began Raiola on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli this afternoon.
“We have different ideas but accept the situation, he manages Napoli in his own way and he has the right to do so. My role is different.
“Hamsik? I want to clarify that I am not his agent and I don’t intend to talk about him. Mine were generic words – when a player does not want to stay at a team then he has to go.
“In these situations, the clubs should be prepared to release the player at the market price, don’t hold the player reluctantly.
“If De Laurentiis has ideas that are different to mine then I cannot but respect them, but a player who has lost the desire to stay loses 50 per cent of himself.
“For me, Hamsik renewed his contract because he has a strong President, so you must have a certain type of character to deal with him.
“There are few players capable of addressing a President like De Laurentiis. I don’t know if a big player is at Napoli by will and not because of De Laurentiis.
“If Cavani could have the chance to leave then he would take it, but that possibility is down to De Laurentiis.”