Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 6y

Guillermo Ochoa: Not my fault Napoli move fell through

Mexico international Guillermo Ochoa insists his botched move to Napoli fell through over problems elsewhere, rather than his own qualities.

Standard Liege goalkeeper Ochoa, who impressed for Mexico at the World Cup, had been linked with a move to Napoli when their new signing Alex Meret broke an arm shortly after joining the club this summer. Ochoa, 33, had been one of the frontrunners for the role but David Ospina joined on loan from Arsenal instead. 

"We only have one more obstacle to the deal: Standard," Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis had claimed as Belgian media reported the Serie A club's offer of €500,000 to loan Ochoa without a compulsory purchase option was unacceptable to the Liege outfit. 

Ochoa has said the move fell through as a result of circumstances beyond his control.

"It's in the past. I'm focussed on Standard. It's not professional to not be. It's something that wasn't in my hands. I have to keep working to try and get that sort of opportunity again," he said. 

"Disappointed? No, because it had nothing to do with my qualities. It's in the offices that it got stuck. From my side, I'm happy to see my qualities are recognised and that people say good things about me, because I work hard every day."

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