Gonzalo Higuain joined Juventus from Napoli for a reported fee of £75.3m, which is the third-highest transfer fee in football history. Arsenal also had a bid for the striker, which included Olivier Giroud plus £42.5m but Napoli turned down that offer and Arsenal didn’t make a new one.
Juventus met the 28-year-old’s buyout clause and Napoli had no choice but to accept the bid despite selling the player to a hated rival. Juventus will pay in two installments. Higuain signed a four-year contract on a £6.3m yearly salary.
The Argentinian striker born in Brest, France, has always been touted as one of the best strikers in the world and made a name for himself in Real Madrid before moving to Napoli in 2013. But he never did anything quite like last season, when he scored 36 goals in 35 appearances in Serie A.
The fact that Juventus – never big spenders – have decided to pay £75m for a player gives even further credit to the pending Paul Pogba transfer to Manchester United. While Pogba’s transfer hasn’t materialized yet, Juventus activity in the transfer market – the purchase of Higuain and active search for a quality midfielder – mean Pogba is certainly at the exit door.
Arsene Wenger was looking for a replacement for Olivier Giroud, and Gonzalo Higuain has been the main transfer target for the Gunners, and Wenger made a £42.5m bid which would include Giroud going to Napoli. However, that bid was refused and Arsene Wenger wasn’t prepared to meet the striker’s buyout clause.
