Hysaj’s agent confirms he came close to joining Chelsea
Elseid Hysaj’s agent has revealed just how close the player came to joining Chelsea over the summer.
Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, as cited on TEAMtalk, Mario Giuffredi confirms that the player would have joined the Blues if it was not for Aurelio De Laurentiis, who blocked the transfer over the summer.
Without that clause he probably would have gone to Chelsea this summer.
The Napoli owner was keen for the new Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri to not return to Naples and raid his former side after luring Jorginho to Stamford Bridge.
Hysaj, Dries Mertens, Raul Albiol and Jose Callejon were among the several Napoli players to be linked with moves to London.
Pepe Reina, who worked with Sarri at Napoli but moved to Milan recently, was also linked.
De Laurentiis reportedly agreed a ‘Gentlemen’s agreement’ with Chelsea to ensure that the Blues would not return to the club for further transfer business.