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Gonzalo Higuain: Real Madrid striker completes move to Napoli

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments291

Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo Higuain

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has completed his £34.5m move to Napoli.

The Argentina international, 25, has been heavily linked with Arsenal this summer, but has signed a reported five-year contract with the Serie A club.

A statement on Napoli's website said:external-link "Napoli have made the signing of Gonzalo Higuain official."

Liverpool's 30-year-old goalkeeper Pepe Reina has also passed a medical as he prepares to link up with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Napoli on loan.

Benitez has been looking to replace Edinson Cavani, who has joined Paris St-Germain.

He said: "We have signed a player who comes from Real Madrid and we have signed a striker who has scored a hatful of goals and who will adapt very well to our system - an attacking system. We needed a player like this.

"We are all working together to ensure the players we want arrive. We have to sign players who will do well for Napoli for the next three or four years."

Higuain joined Real from River Plate in 2006 and scored 107 league goals in his seven seasons at the Bernabeu.

Napoli, last season's Serie A runners-up, have already signed Real Madrid striker Jose Callejon and defender Raul Albiol, in addition to winger Dries Mertens from PSV Eindhoven, this summer.

"Players who come from clubs like Real, PSV and Liverpool can only do us good," Benitez said. "For Napoli these signings represent a quantum leap."

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291 comments

  • Comment posted by U14518442, at 20:03 27 Jul 2013

    Arsenal need to pay £50 million for Saurez, or £55 million plus Bendtner.

  • Comment posted by U15777855, at 20:23 27 Jul 2013

    Apparently Higuain was about to sign for Arsenal, but he failed the Medical. He developed a bad Asthma from all the dust in Arsenal's Trophy cabinet.

  • Comment posted by northbank123, at 19:46 27 Jul 2013

    #23 There is a big difference between Higuain and Giroud - Higuain is actually good enough to play at this level.

    There's also a big difference between Higuain and Suarez - Higuain was realistically attainable.

    Napoli have done exactly what Arsenal have failed to do the last two seasons.

  • Comment posted by U14727542, at 19:30 27 Jul 2013

    £34 million!!!! This is a perfect example of how you get mugged off when clubs know you have money to spend.

  • Comment posted by romeo, at 19:42 27 Jul 2013

    Higuain is a goalscorer. Suarez is so much more

  • Comment posted by Hendos Hair Do, at 00:41 28 Jul 2013

    (Ring Ring)

    Wenger: Hello
    Benitez: Yoink!

    (Click)

  • Comment posted by Govie, at 20:52 27 Jul 2013

    Napoli one - Arse nil

  • Comment posted by U15088021, at 21:15 27 Jul 2013

    I guess its too late for Wengers bid of £34.5million and £1. Looks like the battle for Suarez between RM and Arseanal commences, my moneys on Madrid.

  • Comment posted by oracle, at 21:03 27 Jul 2013

    Poor old gooners, they can't get Suarez and they have missed out on Higuain, ,maybe they should miss out on Rooney next.

  • Comment posted by Nelly, at 20:44 27 Jul 2013

    Sorry, Wenger was right. Higuain is a good player, and at £24 million you are in the eight area, if of course you really believe any footballer is worth that much. But I digress. When Real upped the price to £34 million the guy ceases to be as attractive. I just hope for Napoli's sake they can re-coup that money by running Juve closer, or...

  • Comment posted by U15293856, at 15:03 28 Jul 2013

    Hate the way football is going. Give it ten years and any baseline price for a top player will be at over £50m. It's almost there. Sickening really.

  • Comment posted by gfranco-milano, at 03:28 28 Jul 2013

    good business from napoli i think. sold cavani for 55m, bought someone who could as prolific in the serie A for 34.5m.

    20.5m profit and not really weakened the team

  • Comment posted by Stannis Baratheon, at 23:19 27 Jul 2013

    3 things wrong with all the Arsenal fans singing Suarez all of a sudden:

    1. You all hated him up til about 8 days ago
    2. Liverpool won't sell him to another prem club
    3. No offense but Suarez probably has slightly higher ambitions than Arsenal

  • Comment posted by U15605691, at 21:05 27 Jul 2013

    69.itllalwaysbehighbury
    actually I don't have any negative feelings towards arsenal, i'm being honest in my opinion about the current arsenal board

    Liverpool are investing in players, there trying to improve,

    also in last 8 years Liverpool fans have got more for there ticket price then arsenal, by actually winning things

    in 5 years finishing 4th means nothing

  • Comment posted by U14830218, at 20:36 27 Jul 2013

    I am always impressed with how Wenger and the Arsenal board continue to rob their fans blind and repay them with heartache year after year. good going chaps

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 13:54 28 Jul 2013

    Interesting to see people are still squabbling about who is 'in decline' and who is or isn't a big club on a story about a top striker moving to an Italian club from a Spanish one.

  • Comment posted by torn, at 07:22 28 Jul 2013

    34.5 Million? Really?

    That would make Suarez worth around 60M then, on current form at least.

  • Comment posted by U15794733, at 21:54 27 Jul 2013

    Arsenal would rather make fake bids for Suarez than sign a top quality forward for £5m less than the quoted price.

    If I was an Arsenal fan I'd be seriously angry. They are being treated like mugs.

  • Comment posted by dougiegraham, at 20:22 27 Jul 2013

    #45 yoinkster

    ...(And for f's sake arsene, do NOT under any circumstances buy suarez, I'll happily surrender my season ticket in protest if you do)
    +++
    Can understand if your reservations/stance is because of on field antics & persistent gearing to move but his wage demands are relatively ok for AFC plus he is a game changer which would benefit AFC, in Europe especially, if he wasn't banned

  • Comment posted by U14677467, at 11:34 28 Jul 2013

    so has higuain finished his medical at arsenal yet? MUGS hahaha

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