Nine days to go for someone to activate the famous €94.7 million clause to take Gonzalo Higuain away from Napoli. After this date, no-one can automatically sit down around the negotiating table and talk to the Argentine hit-man about a move to pastures new…or can they?
 

In truth, the answer is yes and no, the date of 30 June has been pencilled in at the bottom of the clause, but it’s not really binding in the sense that each type of contract like this always carries some form of buy-out procedure; this does not mean that outside of the date the clause no longer applies.  

The date is put there in order to avoid a situation where the clause is exerted at any time, for example, on the last day of the transfer window.  June 30 is a temporary reference point because after this date, Napoli can make life even harder for potential buyers (and claim for compensation) for each day beyond the deadline. But this does not mean that an offer of €94.7 million that arrives at the beginning of July will be rejected.

But with each passing day, it will become more complicated to take Higuain away from Napoli. In summary, the June 30 deadline is more of an incentive for those who are really serious about signing the player. 

Adapted from an original article by Giovanni Scotto. Translation by Steve Mitchell