De Laurentiis wants Higuain at Napoli 'forever'

If it were up to Aurelio De Laurentiis, the film producer who also happens to be Napoli's president, Gonzalo Higuain would never leave Stadio San Paolo.

On Tuesday, in conversation with Kiss Kiss Napoli, De Laurentiis insisted that Higuain won't leave Napoli if he's a man of his word and professed his love for the Argentinian forward who scored 36 goals through 35 appearances in Serie A last season.

"If he's sincere in his words, then he's going to continue playing for us," De Laurentiis said, according to Selene Scarsi of ESPN FC. "I'm prepared to extend his contract by a total of five more years. I'm so attached to him as a player and as a man that I would want him to remain with Napoli forever."

De Laurentiis also spoke of his happiness at seeing Higuain tally two goals at the Copa America Centenario in Argentina's victory over Venezuela, saying: "It was great to see him score and celebrate as though he was wearing the Napoli shirt. He is a great player because he plays for the joy of scoring and that is what great forwards do."

Atletico Madrid have reportedly offered €60 million and Matias Kranevitter to Napoli in exchange for Higuain, who is contracted at Napoli until 2018.