Maradona hurt by Higuain's reported transfer to Juventus

Forever in the hearts of Napoli supporters, Diego Maradona spoke from his own as he heard reports of Gonzalo Higuain's potential move to Juventus, criticising the "fat cats" who only think about money.

Reporters in Italy claimed Saturday that Higuain has already completed a medical with Juventus ahead of a €94.7-million transfer. The move has left Napoli fans fuming, with many gathering in the city centre to burn Higuain's jersey.

Some 2,000 supporters also chanted against the striker during Napoli's friendly against Trento later in the day. One banner read, "Higuain scum."

"This Higuain affair is hurting me because he is going to a direct rival like Juventus," Maradona wrote on his official Facebook page. "But we cannot blame the player either. A player has a responsibility to himself, and it is those fat cats of business that are grinning the most in this case. Nobody thinks of the fan."

Related - Report: Gonzalo Higuain signs contract with Juventus until 2020

Maradona has quarreled with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on several occasions, and he said in March that they were no longer on speaking terms.

The 1986 World Cup winner once again called out De Laurentiis, whom Maradona claims is only considering the financial impact of Higuain's possible departure.

De Laurentiis has long contended that he would only consider selling the Argentina international if a club met his gargantuan release clause. That has apparently happened.

"I'm tired of saying that today it seems to be more important to be a good businessman than a good president. This did not happen in my time. Too bad FIFA continues to sleep," Maradona's statement concluded.

Maradona, who played for Napoli from 1984-91, also predicted in April that De Laurentiis would sell Higuain, suggesting that the 28-year-old striker couldn't replicate his record-breaking 36-goal season.

But the former Argentina manager insisted that Napoli would have to use the subsequent funds wisely to build a team that could challenge for a Scudetto.

Maradona lifted the Partenopei to their last Serie A triumph in 1990.