Lyon, France: Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas on Tuesday said he had rejected a big-money offer from Serie A club Napoli for captain Maxime Gonalons.
Aulas told French radio station RMC that Napoli had offered €17 million (Dh84.9 million) for the midfielder but stated that Gonalons would not be allowed to leave in the January transfer window.
“Regarding his departure, my response is no. I have just spoken with the president of Napoli to warn him. Max will stay at Lyon,” Aulas said.
“The decision was taken on Monday evening after I met him. The offer [from Napoli] went up to €17 million on Monday evening but we convinced Max that his future was with Lyon at least until the end of the season.”
The 24-year-old Gonalons, who has won six caps for France, hinted at the weekend that he was interested in the idea of a move to Naples.
“When big European clubs show an interest in you, you have to ask questions,” he said after OL beat amateur side La Suze in the French Cup.
Gonalons stands an outside chance of making Didier Deschamps’ national squad for the World Cup in Brazil, although he hasn’t represented his country since November 2012.
