Napoli's hands on Nicolas Pépé, the rising star of international football. With a blitz that in helicopter brought the Ivorian striker's agents to Dimaro, President Aurelio De Laurentiis gave a probably decisive turning point to what will become his biggest investment ever made in 15 years of managing the blue club . A complex and still undefined negotiation in every detail, which Napoli is trying to close by playing ahead of Manchester United and other Premier League clubs that have long followed the evolution of this fast 24-year-old player born in France but of the Ivory Coast. With Lilla, Napoli has reached an agreement in principle, estimated at 85 million, of which 21 are for the card of Adam Ounas, the external offensive fresh from the victory of the African Cup of Nations with Algeria and already known in Ligue 1 , where he played with the Bordeaux shirt. The problem to be solved is the contractual agreement with Pépé and the arrival of the boy's prosecutors in Dimaro yesterday was a surprise blow. A remarkable signal of approach between the parts.

FIGURES - The player's request for the player is a five-year contract worth over 5 million net per season. But to the costs of the tag, there are to be added commissions requested by the agents of about 6 million. Napoli has responded by offering an engagement of 4 million plus bonuses, while the issue of image rights would not be a problem. But on the commissions De Laurentiis does not intend to pay because they would be well over 3 per cent expected. The most important aspect is the will of the player, fascinated by the sirens of the Premier, who look like Manchester United. For this he is doing team pressing Kevin Malcuit, who Napoli hired a year ago just from Lilla, and who is a great friend of Pépé.