Napoli chairman De Laurentiis 'will not' move to re-sign Cavani

Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has quashed growing speculation that the club could look to re-sign former star striker Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain.

Reports surfaced in Italy in recent days suggesting the Partenopei could try to lure the Uruguay star back to Naples after five years apart. Cavani scored 104 goals in 138 games in just three seasons at Stadio San Paolo, earning himself a reported €64.5-million move to France in 2013.

However, De Laurentiis, who has long held a reputation as one of Italian football's most outspoken owners, appears to have nipped in the bud any talk of a reunion after Cavani impressed at this summer's World Cup.

"I have not and I will not sign Cavani," he stated to Radio Kiss Kiss, Napoli's official radio partner.

Napoli had a potentially lethal but often-frustrating combination of Lorenzo Insigne and Arkaduisz Milik to lead its line last term and has already added Bologna forward Simone Verdi this summer.

De Laurentiis is clearly intending on seeing a fully-fit Milik this season after two severely injury-hit campaigns for the Poland star have limited him to just 32 Serie A games since moving from Ajax in 2016. However, his chairman does not believe there is room or need for Cavani to bolster the club's attack.

"Everyone keeps talking about Cavani, but he's not coming," the 69-year-old said. "Milik has the ability to score 30 goals, he just couldn't prove it because of his injury.

"Napoli already has top players at home. Milik, (Piotr) Zielinski, and (Kalidou) Koulibaly, who have just arrived for training, are the envy of everyone and worth €300 million, but no one comes forward because it's clear that our club has no desire to sell its jewels."