Higuain’s tally of 36 goals in 35 games last year was the highest ever in a single Serie A season. PHOTO: AFP
Argentina and Napoli legend Diego Maradona has criticised the influence of money on football, with compatriot Gonzalo Higuain joining Serie A champions Juventus from the Partenopei.
The move further increases the gap between Juventus — who have won the Serie A five times in a row — and the chasing pack after the Old Lady triggered the €94 million release clause for last year’s top scorer in an Italy-record deal.
Higuain set for record Juventus move
And Maradona was left fuming after his beloved Napoli were weakened by the departure of a player who scored 36 goals in 35 league games last season, the highest ever in a single Serie A season.
“This Higuain affair is hurting me because he is going to a direct rival like Juventus. But we cannot blame the player either,” Maradona wrote on his official Facebook page. “A player has a responsibility to himself and it is those fat cats of business that are grinning the most in this case.”
Higuain likely to join Juventus
The 55-year-old added that the game is being more and more determined by financial figures than footballing decisions. “Nobody thinks of the fan. I’m tired of saying that today it seems to be more important to be a good businessman than a good president,” he added, before criticising football’s world governing body. “This did not happen in my time. Too bad that FIFA continues to sleep.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2016.
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