Former Real Madrid striker Higuain will not sign new offer from Napoli

Thigh injury to sideline Khedira for two months

Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring during an Italian Serie A match against Lazio on May 31, 2015, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples. Carlo Hermann / AFP

Gonzalo Higuain has been offered a new Napoli contract but will not sign it, according to his brother and agent.

The Argentina striker, who has scored 35 Serie A goals in his two years in Naples, has been linked with a move away from the San Paolo.

Although the 27-year-old former Real Madrid marksman is expected to stay with the club, Nicolas Higuain said he will not extend his current deal, which runs until 2018.

He told Naples-based Radio CRC: “We had a meeting with the president (Aurelio de Laurentiis) in Venice 10 days ago.

“We talked about everything. He offered a one-year contract extension, however, in my opinion – and in our opinion – we’ll continue with the original contract, expiring in 2018.

“I don’t think we’ll accept the president’s offer, because the contract isn’t that different to the one we signed before, so, for us, it’s not a real offer.

“We’re calm and happy to continue with the current conditions.”

The striker has a €100 million (Dh402m) release clause included in his contract, but his brother said that despite being connected to several of Europe’s big clubs, none have been in contact about a possible move.

“It seems strange, but the big clubs have not contacted me, nor have I spoken with anyone,” he said.

“At the moment we have faith Gonzalo will stay at Napoli, in a team which is 100 per cent focused and can win something.”

Napoli, coached by Maurizio Sarri, finished fifth in Serie A last season after finishing second and third in the two previous campaigns.

They start their 2015/16 campaign on August 23 at Sassuolo.

Elsewhere, Juventus expect midfielder Sami Khedira to be sidelined for two months after he suffered a thigh injury in a preseason friendly.

The Germany international, a summer recruit from Real Madrid, was carried off on a stretcher during Juve’s 2-0 friendly defeat against Marseille at the weekend.

“Sami Khedira will be sidelined for approximately two months after medical examinations revealed a second-grade myotendinous tear of the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh,” a statement on Juve’s website read.

Khedira was making just his second Juventus appearance in Saturday’s match but will now miss the champions’ Italian Super Cup showdown against Lazio in Shanghai on Saturday.

The 28-year-old former Stuttgart player is also expected to be unavailable for his new club’s first eight league fixtures. Juventus kick off their Serie A title defence at home against Udinese on August 23.

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