Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis disclosed that Paris Saint-Germain made an offer exceeding €200 million for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen. He also revealed a failed attempt to sign Victor Gyokeres. Kvaratskhelia moved to PSG for €70 million, and Osimhen joined Galatasaray for €75 million. Napoli has since signed Sam Beukema, Noa Lang, Miguel Gutierrez, Lorenzo Lucca and Kevin De Bruyne. They are also interested in Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund. De Laurentiis explained the difficulties in retaining Kvaratskhelia due to his agent’s demands and Article 17.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has sensationally revealed that Paris Saint-Germain tabled an offer exceeding €200 million for the dynamic duo of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen during the previous summer transfer window. The revelation sheds light on the intense interest surrounding Napoli's prized assets and the club's strategic decisions in the transfer market.
Speaking candidly, De Laurentiis disclosed that had he sanctioned the sale of Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen, the substantial windfall would have been reinvested in an attempt to secure the services of Victor Gyokeres, who ultimately joined Arsenal. This revelation underscores Napoli's ambition to maintain a competitive squad capable of challenging for major honors.
Kvaratskhelia's eventual departure to PSG materialized in January for a reported fee of €70 million, marking the end of his tenure with the Serie A champions. Meanwhile, Osimhen spent the 2024-25 season on loan with Turkish giants Galatasaray, showcasing his talents on a different stage.
Osimhen's stint with Galatasaray culminated in a permanent transfer last month, with the Nigerian international joining the club for a reported €75 million. Despite these departures, Napoli have been proactive in reinforcing their squad, aiming to maintain their position at the summit of Italian football.
The club has welcomed several new faces, including Sam Beukema, Noa Lang, Miguel Gutierrez, Lorenzo Lucca, and even the veteran Kevin De Bruyne, signaling their intent to retain the Scudetto. These additions demonstrate Napoli's commitment to building a squad capable of competing both domestically and in European competitions.
Furthermore, Antonio Conte's side has been linked with Manchester United forwards Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, indicating their desire to bolster their attacking options. These potential acquisitions come in the wake of Romelu Lukaku's unfortunate injury, which deprived Napoli of their top scorer from the previous season.
Victor Osimhen, yeniden Galatasaray’da! pic.twitter.com/tWY5Lh4frA
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) July 31, 2025
As Napoli prepare to commence their Scudetto defense against Sassuolo, De Laurentiis has shed light on the circumstances surrounding Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen's departures, providing valuable insights into the club's transfer dealings.
“I had to let him [Kvara] go because his agent was threatening to use Article 17,” ADL told 7 Corriere della Sera via Di Marzio, highlighting the challenges faced by the club in retaining its star players.
“After the Georgian’s extraordinary first season, we immediately moved to negotiate a contract extension, increasing his salary and offering him a significant sum,” De Laurentiis explained, emphasizing the club's efforts to reward Kvaratskhelia for his outstanding performances.
“However, his agent, Mamuka Jugeli, had other plans for himself and the player,” the Napoli president revealed, suggesting external influences played a role in Kvaratskhelia's decision to leave the club.
“At the end of the second contractual year, there was the European Championship in Germany,” De Laurentiis continued, outlining the timeline of events leading to Kvaratskhelia's departure.
“I flew to Dusseldorf with Manna and Chiavelli to resolve the situation, but Mamuka kept stalling, claiming that Giuntoli had promised money that was never paid,” he added, highlighting the complexities of negotiating with player representatives.
“It was a lie, easy to disprove. I could have sold him at that moment. PSG offered over 200m for the Kvara and Osimhen package,” De Laurentiis stated, reaffirming the financial implications of the potential deal.
In addition to discussing the departures of Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen, De Laurentiis also revealed his attempt to lure Gyokeres away from Sporting CP before the Sweden international's move to Arsenal. Gyokeres had an impressive scoring record in the Primeira Liga, further highlighting Napoli's interest in acquiring his services.
Gyokeres scored 68 goals in two seasons in the Primeira Liga – the most of any player in Europe’s top 10 leagues since his move to Portugal from Coventry City in 2023.
He scored 39 goals in 2024-25, making him the leading scorer in Europe’s top 10 leagues, with his tally eight more than next-best Kylian Mbappe.
“However, I had promised Conte I would keep him, and I didn’t feel like going back on my word. With those funds, the idea was to buy Gyokeres.” De Laurentiis concluded, emphasizing the importance of trust and integrity in his dealings with players and coaches.
The revelations made by De Laurentiis provide a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of Napoli and their transfer strategies, offering valuable insights into the challenges and decisions faced by club presidents in the modern football landscape.