Napoli winger 'loves Barcelona and Real Madrid'

FT Desk

• 7 Oct 2022 12:30 CDT
• 3 min read

Hirving Lozana has been linked with a move to a host of Premier League clubs, but it appears Clasico pair Barcelona and Real Madrid would have an advantage over Manchester United and Co.

Lozano has been one of Napoli's top performers since joining from PSV Eindhoven in a €42 million deal in 2019, tallying 26 goals and 14 assists in all competitions since his move.

But the Mexican has fallen behind Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the pecking order at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and is out of contract in the summer of 2024.

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Currently rated at €28m by Football Transfers' sophisticated in-house algorithm, his asking price will get driven yet lower the closer to the conclusion of his Napoli contract gets.

Man Utd and Everton are reportedly at the front of the queue among the English clubs interested in the winger, nicknamed "Chucky" by his teammates, but his agent Alessandro Monfrecola has hinted that Spain would be his preferred destination.

Kvaradona problem

"With a Kvaratskhelia at this level it's hard to get him to play [on the left wing]," he said on Radio CRC. "In my opinion Lozano will leave next June, also because he earns over €4m at Napoli.

"Even though he's delighted to be here, he's never hidden that he aspires to the top English clubs even if now he is probably realising that Napoli itself is a top club.

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"[But] he has never hidden that he loves Barcelona and Real Madrid, but unless [Carlo] Ancelotti falls in love with him again, he has no future where he is."

"I think he can join Manchester United or Everton. This doesn't exclude that other English cubs can enter the negotiation. My personal prediction is that he will leave in June."

Now 27, Lozano has won 59 caps for his country, scoring 26 goals, and would be an asset for many a club beyond Napoli, whether it is the Clasico giants or not…