Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has come down hard on suggestions that striker Gonzalo Higuain is on his way to Juventus with words which may give encouragement to Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger has been linked with wanting Higuain at the Emirates Stadium, but Juventus have been firmly in pole position in the race, with a four-year contract worth €7.5m per year already thrashed out with the Argentine.
And it was claimed Juventus were preparing to trigger Higuain's €94m release clause, which Napoli are insisting is met if they are to agree to a sale and something which would have realistically ended any prospect of a move to Arsenal.
But De Laurentiis says Juventus have no intention of activating the release clause and have had no contact with Napoli over the hitman.
He told Italian broadcaster Sportitalia: "There has never been any contact between Juve and Napoli for Higuain.
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"Juventus have never had any intention of paying the release clause and we have not asked for it.
"There is a five-year contract and a release clause", De Laurentiis continued.
"If someone pays it then Higuain can say 'I accept'."
Higuain scored an astonishing 36 goals in Serie A last season and helped to power Napoli to a finish of second and a spot in this season's Champions League.
However, with Juventus and Arsenal both linked with the Argentina international, who is due back at Napoli on 25th July following his efforts in the Copa America in the United States this summer, speculation around the striker's future looks set to rumble on.
