Gonzalo Higuain is leaving Juventus but the veteran striker has little interest in returning to the Premier League with the likes of Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham or Newcastle, according to Calciomercato.
With all due respect, you can understand why Higuain would be aiming a little higher than this; even if his goal-laden, record-breaking days appear to be behind him at the age of 32.
After all, the 75-time Argentina international has spent the last 13 years playing at the highest level that European football has to offer, joining Juventus in a £75 million deal after scoring for fun in the white of Real Madrid and the powder blue of Napoli.
Higuain found the net just 11 times in 43 games during his final season in Turin however, overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo and a rejuvinated Paulo Dybala.
With rookie coach Andrea Pirlo under pressure to breathe fresh life into an ageing squad during his first season in the dugout, the second-most expensive signing in Juve’s history is the first big-name star heading out of the door.
“He was a great champion, a great player but the cycle is over,” Pirlo said in quotes reported by the BBC.
“We looked each other in the eyes, we talked and we made this decision. I admire him a lot, but we have decided that the paths will separate.”
Higuain will have the final year of his contract rescinded, meaning a man who cost £75 million just four years ago will now be a free agent.
Calciomercato adds that Villa, Newcastle, West Ham and even a newly-promoted Fulham side reached out. But a man with a trio of La Liga and Serie A titles on his CV has no interest in spending his final few years at the top level fighting for survival in England.
TuttoJuve reports that Higuain earned £130,000-a-week at Juventus, although he will surely have to take a pay cut if he wants to stay in Europe.
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