Seria A side Napoli have denied reports striker Gonzalo Higuain slated former Real Madrid team mate Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview.
Quotes attributed to the Argentinean, who made the switch from the Santiago Bernabeu to Italy two years ago, were highly damning of his ex-strike partner.
Spanish publication Don Balon published comments by the forward, who scored for Napoli in their 2-1 win over champions Juventus at the weekend, in which he said Ronaldo was over-rated.
“He [Ronaldo] has a lot of ego. If you don’t say he’s the best, he’s not your friend. Cristiano thinks he’s the best but he’s over-rated. I’ve shared a dressing room with Messi and one is nothing like the other,” Higuain was quoted as saying.
But his club has dismissed the comments, saying Higuain never gave an interview to Don Balon in the first place.
A statement released by the club read: “Napoli and Higuain categorically deny ever he has been granted an interview with ‘Don Balon’. Therefore the sentences attributed to Higuain are considered false and without any foundation.”
Higuain played 264 games for Los Blancos after arriving in the Spanish capital as an 18-year-old. He netted 122 goals in his time at the club and won three La Liga titles as well as the Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups.