Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has made a striking decision about Piotr Zielinski. The Polish midfielder refuses to extend his contract in Naples and will leave on a free transfer next summer. De Laurentiis does not thank him for that.

Zielinski also reached a verbal agreement with Napoli rival Inter. The 29-year-old playmaker is therefore not registered for the knockout phase of the Champions League.

The film producer and also president of the Naples club revealed this at a press conference. “In the Champions League you are allowed to register fewer players than in Serie A. When I look at next season, we have to determine who we are going to give the chance.”

Napoli will face FC Barcelona in the eighth finals of the billion dollar ball. The first leg at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is scheduled for February 21. The return in Catalonia is scheduled for March 12.

I Partenopei must therefore do without Zielinski in that diptych. In the group stage of the tournament, the club called on Zielinski in all six matches. He scored a goal and also provided an assist.

Zielinski came over from Udinese for sixteen million euros in 2016. In the past, he played for Lubin in Poland alongside Udinese and Napoli and was once loaned out by Udinese to FC Empoli.

Zielinski, who has played a total of 355 times for Napoli, will not be in the selection against Hellas Verona on Sunday. The 86-time Poland international is struggling with a muscle injury.

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