Napoli president says Gonzalo Higuain isn't going anywhere

Hands off! Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis isn't too happy with his star striker, Gonzalo Higuain, constantly being linked to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United, and has issued a clear statement: Higuain is here to stay.

"There is absolutely no chance that Higuain will leave," De Laurentiis told Mediaset, as translated by Sky Sports. "Gonzalo is a Napoli player. I have made his (release) clause clear in order to stop the constant speculation that appears in the press.

"There is a precise clause," he added.

That figure has been reported as anywhere from £66.8 million to £95 million.

"With reference to the stories being spread by some of the media about the possible departure of Higuain for a fee in the region of €50m, SSC Napoli would like to make it clear that the Argentinian attacker has a release clause in his contract valued at €94,736,000," the team said in a statement back in June, as translated by ESPN FC.

Higuain, 27, was Napoli's top striker over the last two seasons, since joining the Italian side from Real Madrid to the tune of €40 million back in 2013. He hit the back of the net 18 times in 37 league appearances last season in Serie A.

Speculation about his future with the club increased as he remains on extended holiday, but De Laurentiis says it's for a good reason:

"Higuain played in the Copa America," De Laurentiis explained. "He has the right to a certain number of days off."

He'll be using those days off to recover after a torrid time at the Copa America, where he missed a clear-cut chance in the final against Chile. With literally seconds to go in regulation time, Higuain failed to bury a low cross, then followed that up with a penalty sent into the stands during the shootout.

(Courtesy: Official Football Fans Channel)

Napoli, fifth-place finishers in Serie A last season, will be hoping Higuain can shake off that performance come the start of the 2015-16 campaign on Aug. 23.