Southampton forward Ramirez talks up Napoli transfer

Southampton's 22-year-old attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez has dropped his biggest hint yet that he would like to leave St. Mary's after his agent admitted the player has a frosty relationship with club manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Saints paid a club record £12 million in August 2012 to sign Ramirez from Bologna and the Uruguayan enjoyed a mixed first season at the club, despite scoring 5 goals in 26 games in the Premier League.


When Ramirez joined Southampton the transfer surprised many as the youngster had been linked with a host of major clubs all over Europe, with AC Milan and Inter Milan both sending scouts to watch the player in action.


It appears that the midfielder is currently out of Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino's first team plans having only played in 3 league games so far in 2013-14 and already there has been talk of a transfer away from England.


Napoli are known to have a long term interest in Ramirez, with manager Rafa Benitez an admirer of the player's qualities.


Southampton are understood to be ready to sell for a fee of around £9million but Napoli have only budgeted around £6 million for a transfer. 


Ramirez's agent Pablo Betancourt confirmed that the player's relationship with manager Pochettino has soured: "Napoli is a possibility. Gaston really likes the chairman, Nicola Cortese, but not the coach, Pochettino."