Chelsea once offered more than €30m for Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj, but saw their efforts blocked by manager Maurizio Sarri.
That’s according to the player’s agent Mario Giuffredi, who has revealed all in a chat with CRC radio, relayed by Tutto Napoli.
30-year-old Hysaj spent six years at Napoli after making a €5m move from Empoli in August 2015, before then joining Lazio on a free transfer in July 2021.
That saw him working under Maurizio Sarri at all three clubs, first making 108 appearances under him at Empoli, before adding 135 to that at Napoli and then another 103 at Lazio.
He’s made 346 appearances for him in total, the most of any manager by some distance, with Gennaro Gattuso sitting in second at 48.
Their relationship has been a fruitful one, to say the least, with Hysaj a key player under him and earning attention around Europe at various points.
Chelsea were believed to be one of the sides showing an interest in him but that move never happened and he ended up remaining in Italy. That, according to his agent, was thanks to Sarri, who he would continue working under later in his career.
“Hysaj to Chelsea? The Blues offered a significant sum, over €30m. Sarri wanted to keep him and made sure he stayed in Naples,” he said when asked about the player and a potential transfer.
