Italy star’s agent aims dig at Arsenal over Nicolas Pepe’s transfer fee

Marco Verrati’s former agent has defended Napoli’s decision to pull out of the move to sign Arsenal-bound Nicolas Pepe, claiming that “the price is excessive.”

The Ivory Coast international is set to join Arsenal for €80m after a number of Premier League and Napoli showed interest in the winger.

The Lille star had been in advanced negotiations for a move to Napoli, with his agents flying in by helicopter for talks, but Arsenal offered better personal terms and agreed to pay the large commission for his representatives.

“Pepe plays in a puppet league where the only team is Paris Saint-Germain,” Verratti’s former agent Donato Di Campli told Radio Kiss Kiss as cited by Football Italia.

“I think the price is excessive. We’re talking about a player who did very well for one season in a team, Lille, that would be in the relegation zone in Serie A.

“I therefore agree with (Napoli President) Aurelio De Laurentiis, who is seriously considering the wisdom of this transfer. Pepe would be a gamble for Italy, not someone to rely on.”

Meanwhile, RMC Sport claim Pepe will be in London on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning ahead of a medical.