Juventus have officially signed Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain from Serie A rivals Napoli after triggering the €90 million release clause in his contract. The 28-year-old has become the third most expensive player in the world, but leaves behind thousands of shattered Neapolitans who hailed him as their footballing hero.
Roma legend Francesco Totti, who has spent 24 years at the club, has made some comments on the big transfer. The 39-year-old Roman captain lamented that football has become more about money than passion.
“The sport has changed a lot,” said the Italy legend in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Now at the centre is money. Players change teams more often, perhaps to make more money. It’s more a business than a passion.
“Fans go to the stadium to have fun and see a player who is always on the same team – they expect not to be betrayed.
“Look at what has happened now with Higuain from Napoli to Juventus. It’s a disaster.”
The 39-year-old added that it was now commonplace for foreigners playing in Italy to move to other clubs to make more money, unlike Napoli’s greatest Argentine hero Diego Maradona.