Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
All Scores
Odds by

Report: Juve buys Higuain for $103m, tipped as precursor to Pogba sale

SSC Napoli v Empoli FC - Serie A

NAPLES, ITALY - JANUARY 31: Gonzalo Higuain (R) and MArek Hamsik of Napoli celebrate the equalizing goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Empoli FC at Stadio San Paolo on January 31, 2016 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Getty Images

It’s a move that screams its own headlines, yet is being tipped as a precursor to a larger one.

According to Sky Sports, Juventus has purchased Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for an incredible $103 million, equaling the second-highest transfer fee in football history (Cristiano Ronaldo).

Higuain is 28 years old, making the fee even harder to fathom despite his status as the reigning Serie A goal leader. His 36 goals in 35 matches was by far his best campaign, though he’s always been a productive striker.

[ MORE: Sunderland hires Moyes ]

Moreover, the massive money only fuels the fire that Juventus is possibly selling Paul Pogba to Manchester United or Real Madrid for what will certainly be a world record fee, eclipsing the $110 million Real paid for Gareth Bale in 2013.

Higuain was also tipped for a move to Arsenal, but that always seemed improbable given the reported fees and Arsene Wenger’s preference for younger players.

It’s a huge risk for Juventus, even given the probability of Pogba money arriving in Turin.

Updates about Higuain: Juventus has contacted Napoli to announce they found agreement with Gonzalo and he had medicals #transfers


— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2016

Follow @NicholasMendola