Gonzalo Higuain's sensational £75.3m move to Juventus from Napoli has been labelled as a 'betrayal' by Napoli's ownerAurelio De Laurentiis,Sky Sportsreports.
De Laurentiis has been unforgiving in his assessment of the former Naples hero who he described as showing "ingratitude" towards the Napoli faithful by joining their rivals.
Higuain, 28, was in electricform last season as his 36 Serie goals- a league record- almost guided Napoli to their first Scudetto in 26 years but eventually lost out to Juventus.
His record-breaking season proved to be his last in Naples as Juventus took advantage of the £75.3m release clause inserted in his contract last week to end his three-year stay and send their fans into ecstasy.
But the reaction in Naples has been one of extreme anger with replica Higuain shirts being unceremoniously burned and destroyed by betrayed fans.
De Laurentiis has been just as scathing with his appraisal of the fallout between Higuain and Napoli and described the former Real Madrid ace's behaviour as anunpleasant surprise.
"Some people say that to speak of betrayal is exaggerated, but I think the opposite because there is the full sense of betrayal in this [Higuain] choice because of the ingratitude shown," he told Italian media.
"Obviously I have to consider the role played by Juventus, but I expected a different kind of behaviour [from Higuain]."
De Laurentiis sanctioned the move when Juventus offered to pay the £75m in two instalments but Higuain and his brother's actions in the lead up to his departure have left the owner withbitter taste in his mouth with the deal and modern football in general.
"True, there was the clause so there was no formal impropriety... but the unscrupulous nature of football means there is no respect for sentiment," added De Laurentiis.
"We understood, as soon as Higuain's brother spoke, that we might run the risk of having to look for a new centre forward.
"But we didn't think that risk was serious, or that he could simply wipe clean his three years spent with Napoli."