De Laurentiis counter-attack, proposal made by plane! [ESCLUSIVA]

Market Naples, renewal Mertens: background behind Salzburg

Trying to retrace the process that led to this tug of war with the blue leadership, the first contacts for the extension of the contract date back to about a year ago. At the time the attacker advanced for the first time those that still remain his conditions to renew: at least a two-year contract with an increase in the salary to 5 million (currently receives 4 million plus bonuses), in recognition of what has been done in recent years by the club's second best all-time scorer.

The Belgian, who has always put the renewal with Napoli at the top of his priorities, however, had to deal with the position of Aurelio De Laurentiis who did not go beyond the offer of a biennial to the same figures. The entourage of the former PSV has tried in vain in recent months to find a mediation, but without getting positive feedback from the Neapolitan patron.

The situation was then further exacerbated after the statements by the same De Laurentiis ("If they want to go hustlers in China …") about the rumors that they would like Dries enticed by the eastern Dalian millions. Strict to what was exclusively collected by CalcioNapoli24, the last conversation between the parties took place on the blue plane returning from Salzburg: on that occasion De Laurentiis himself would have asked Mertens to discuss to find a meeting point. However, the Belgian's reaction was cold, considering the lack of its lawyers (as well as of those who hold the power of attorney) on board the plane. From that moment on, there were no further developments, with the negotiations showing no progress: time meanwhile continues to flow and from January the player will be free to sign an agreement with any other club.

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