Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis says that Manchester City are not willing to meet the GBP 54 million buyout clause in Edinson Cavani's contract.

The Uruguay international has been heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer, with City and Real Madrid being linked with the star.

"Manchester City do not have money to pay for Cavani because they say we won't pay that," De Laurentiis said on Friday.

"Abu Dhabi (City's owners) say they would never pay 63m euros for Cavani."

He continued, "With Edinson nothing has changed. Headlines I've read in the papers did not represent his words exactly.

"He could never deny the importance of a club like Real Madrid's, but don't forget that he made his name at Napoli.

"If a club like Anzhi (Makhachkala) enquire about him, maybe he says no, but other clubs like Bayern (Munich), Barcelona or Real Madrid could persuade him to leave.

"He knows that he has a contract and an obligation to us, and there is a buy-out clause.

"Cavani knows that at Napoli he is the most important player. I do not know whether, at Real Madrid or in other teams, he will be as important."