Thursday, 20th June, 2013
Ligue 1 giants Lyon have announced that the club have no intention of selling skipper Maxime Gonalons this summer.
The highly-rated 24-year-old defensive midfielder has been linked with several clubs across Europe, with one of his suitors identified as Napoli, where former Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has taken charge as the head coach this summer; and it has been suggested that the Azzurri will buy Gonalons.
English Premier League side Arsenal have also been linked with a swoop for the player, as part of a double move including his team-mate Clement Grenier. But Lyon will not sell.
“The club have no intention of separating from our captain and it is a matter of clear strategy", a club statement read.
"We are focused on further development of the sports club around the best young people from the academy, one of which is Maxime Gonalons.
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"Olympique Lyonnais therefore deny any contact and negotiations with Napoli and regrets an intermediary has suggested otherwise."
The France international has been with Les Gones since 1999 as a youth player. He made his senior debut for the club 10 years later and won a French Cup with Lyon in 2011/12.
Gonalons made 42 appearances for Lyon last season, as the club finished third in the French top flight.
The six-time capped France international has a contract at the Stade Gerland until June 2016.
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