Lavezzi rumours intensify as player pens bizarre goodbye to fans

Transfer Speculation

Liverpool target Ezequiel Lavezzi seems ever more likely to be heading out of Napoli after writing a letter to fans in which he claims to have been treated with “a lack of respect” by the club reports today’s Star. The article say’s: “The striker, who is under contract at the Serie A side until 2012, insisted yesterday he wants to remain at Napoli despite reported interest from the Reds. However, the 24-year-old looks to have changed his mind amid reports of a falling out with sporting director Pierpaolo Marino. The letter reads: “I’m writing this letter to the fans who have always been close to me. It’s a difficult time and I hope that soon the situation will become clearer as much for you as for me. The only sure thing is that one day there won’t be either Lavezzi or Marino but there will always be this great club and this immense city simply because Napoli does not belong to anyone, it represents the synthesis of the sentiment of their fans’ dignity. Today I have to choose between dignity and a lack of respect, because of my loyalty to my upbringing without doubt I choose dignity.”

The article goes on to say: “reports in Italy suggest Lavezzi’s representatives met with Manchester United chiefs in Madrid with a view to a move to Old Trafford. The Argentina forward’s agent claims he has an offer on the table from a big club but insists nothing has been decided yet. Alejandro Mazzoni said: “This is not a goodbye letter. He was thinking about leaving an explanation for the fans, who are important for him. “He never said he wanted to leave Napoli. “There is a very real offer from a team who are playing in the Champions League and where he would earn much more than here. “Marino had a strategy for arriving at the end of the season but he has not respected anything of what he promised. “The lad wants to stay at Napoli. But for him what’s more important is dignity which is above contracts, national teams, money - above everything. “If it was for the city and fans he would stay, 100%, but if it was for the relationship between us and the directors, it would be close to zero.”

As this story is entitled: “LIVERPOOL TO SNAP UP LAVEZZI?” one could argue the article doesn’t do what it says on the tin.

Meanwhile the Daily Express reports: “Lavezzi prepared to snub Liverpool”. When asked about a reported offer from Liverpool, the player said "Liverpool's offer?, I want to stay at Napoli," said Lavezzi. "I hope everything will be made clear but it depends on the club not on me." and added: "I reiterate that my wish is to remain at Napoli."