Barca step up interest in Adrian Lopez; Napoli chief reveals Lavezzi’s release clause

Barca step up interest in Adrian Lopez

Barcelona are ready to step up their interest in Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez, AS has revealed.

The Catalans have been following the promising forward for a while now and they seem ready to make an official bid for the player’s services.

According to AS, Pep Guardiola believes the 24-year-old would fit perfectly into Barcelona’s style of play and he will instruct club chiefs to launch an assault in the summer.

Barcelona officials were waiting for the talented coach to sign a contract extension before they start pursuing summer targets, but when it became clear that Guardiola will sign a new deal they have rekindled their interest in the highly rated forward.

Atletico are well aware of Barcelona’s interest in the player and they will be powerless to prevent the player from leaving if the Catalans match his €18 million release clause.

Adrian Lopez has been in fine form after arriving on a free transfer from Deportivo La Coruna last summer, having scored 16 goals in 48 games for Atletico this season.

Napoli chief reveals Lavezzi’s release clause

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that Ezequiel Lavezzi can leave San Paolo for €32 million.

The movie producer visited team’s training camp in Castel Volturno to try and lift the players’ spirits following the poor run of results.

De Laurentiis has told Sky Sport Italia what he had said to the players during his visit.

“Guys, I said, let’s be a little honest and don’t always use the Champions League as an excuse,” Da Laurentiis said.

“I don’t want you to be depressed, you have to smile. You are Napoli.”

The Napoli chairman then addressed the transfer speculations surrounding the Three Tenors.

“(Summer) Departures? Only Lavezzi has a release clause of €32 million. Pocho can only leave if he decides to go to Russia.

”That must be understood of one only works for money… I work for another thing.”

Lavezzi has been heavily linked with a summer exit and a failure to ensure Champions League qualification would probably push him closer to the exit door.

Cambiasso denies exit talk

Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has rejected claims that he is set to leave Inter at the end of the season.

Neroazzurri president Massimo Moratti hinted at major squad rebuilding over the summer and the experienced midfielder was one of those linked with a summer exit from Giuseppe Meazza.

However, the player, who was reinstated to the starting line-up by new boss Andrea Stramaccioni, is adamant he will not be leaving come end of the season.

“I’ll stay with Inter next season,” the 31-year-old told Sky Sport Italia.

The 31-year-old arrived to Giuseppe Meazza on a free transfer from Real Madrid in 2004 and is currently playing his eighth season for the Neroazzurri.

Cambiasso has featured in 31 Serie A games this season and he managed to score no less than 4 goals in the process.

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