Rome, July 23 (IANS) Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has reportedly undergone medical examinations in Madrid ahead of his potential switch to Italian football champions Juventus, who are willing to pay the Argentine's buy-out clause of 94.7 million euros ($104.8 million).
According to Sky Sport Italia on Saturday, the 28-year-old underwent medical tests with Juventus in a Madrid clinic with the presence of the Turin club's general manager Giuseppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici.
Paratici also discussed personal terms with the player and his agent and brother, Nicolas.
Higuain scored 38 goals in all competitions for Napoli last season, who finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A.
Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013, has two years remaining on his contract in Naples.
It has also been stated that an agreement was reached between the parties for the former Real Madrid striker to sign a four-year deal at Juventus worth 7.5 million euros ($8.3 million) per year plus image rights.
Such a deal would make him the highest paid player in Serie A if it were to go through, allowing him to leapfrog Roma midfield talisman Daniele De Rossi.
His signing will represent a major coup for the Italian champions as they look to strengthen despite the loss of Alvaro Morata, who returned to Real Madrid, and the expected departure of Paul Pogba to Manchester United.
Juventus will pay the fee in two instalments, though it is understood that is not dependent on Pogba's transfer fee which the Turin side has outlined at $130 million.
Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera newspaper published a report that Higuain has already signed a rental agreement for an apartment in Turin.
The report is full of detail, naming the address as Piazzetta Brosio in the Crocetta area, that Higuain viewed the apartment with his brother over the last few days and even agreed to include two Juventus season tickets as part of the deal.
The report also suggests that Juventus will submit an official offer to Napoli for the striker this weekend.
If the deal is agreed, Higuain will become the biggest ever signing for an Italian club, the most expensive Juventus player of all time and the second costliest transfer in club football history.
He is currently second only to Gareth Bale, who joined Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($109.7 million) in the summer of 2013.
Real Madrid again paid 94 million ($103.1 million) to take Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in July 2009, while Barcelona got Neymar from Santos for 86 million euros ($94.3 million) in 2013.
Higuain will be by far the most expensive transfer in Juventus history, as their previous top expenditure was the $55 million they paid Serie A rival Parma for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.
The most expensive buy in Serie A was Hernan Crespo, as Lazio spent 55 million euros ($60.3 million) to bring him in from Parma in 2000.
--IANS
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