Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta says the club will not meet Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain's €94.7 million release clause but hinted that he was not ruling out a deal.
Marotta met briefly with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on Monday but was told Higuain, 28, would only be allowed to leave for the amount stipulated in his release clause, with the Juve chief apparently replying that his club were "not even thinking" about that.
Speaking to reporters after having spoken to De Laurentiis at a Lega Serie A meeting, Marotta confirmed that was the case but suggested the deal was not yet dead.
"There are no negotiations and there's no chance to negotiate, so that's it," Marotta said. "That's the end of the story ... for now."
When pressed on those last two words, Marotta smiled and repeated: "For now."
Higuain, who scored 36 Serie A goals last season, is currently in Argentina after representing his country at the Copa America and he is not due back in Naples until July 25.