Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri says he is disappointed with Gonzalo Higuain for moving to Juventus without even saying goodbye, and admits it is going to be hard to speak to him again in future.
Higuain's €90 million switch has angered Napoli fans and Sarri shares their disappointment, particularly since he enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Argentina striker last season, when he scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A games.
Sarri said he would have expected at least a telephone call before he left, but he did not even get that.
"I've just seen him with a Juve shirt and while I will still talk to him, I won't be happy to do so," Sarri told Il Corriere dello Sport. "It was entirely his decision. We had offered him as much as he is getting there and on a personal level, it's very bitter because I expected at least a phone call from him, at least five minutes before undergoing a medical.
"Even the lads expected him to say goodbye, but that never came. Technically speaking, we've lost the best centre-forward in the world, but I've told the lads 'let's not cry about it because we're strong even without Gonzalo,' and we proved that last year already. There is, of course, a bit of unhappiness, but as soon as you get onto the field, you quickly forget that."
Higuain's transfer, added to Juve's captures of Dani Alves, Miralem Pjanic, Medhi Benatia and Marko Pjaca already this summer, only reinforce the Bianconeri's position as favourites to win Serie A for a record sixth successive time.
"It's worrying that they have won five in a row already," Sarri said.
"It makes Italian football less appetising. But even the favourites can get things wrong. Let's say that on paper the destiny of the league seems to be decided already, but there are 38 games and I can assure you that Juve are going to have a very difficult one -- perhaps even impossible one -- at the San Paolo."
That fixture will not come around until next April, but the date has been marked in the city of Naples.
Full-back Christian Maggio will hope to be involved in it with his agent Massimo Briaschi confirming his intention to stay with the Azzurri.
"Maggio and Sarri have spoken during preseason and the relationship between the two of them is excellent," he said. "Sarri will decide together with the club what Maggio's future will be, but the lad has made a very good impression because he wants to stay with the Azzurri."