Napoli striker Lavezzi may push for City move after his girlfriend is robbed at gunpoint

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated:

Ezequiel Lavezzi could now seek a switch to Manchester City after his girlfriend was mugged in Naples.

The Napoli forward, 26, has been urged to move to the Barclays Premier League club by his international team-mate Sergio Aguero and now his mind could be made up.

His sweetheart Yanina Screpante was stripped of her Rolex watch by two armed robbers on Saturday night.

Moving on? Ezequiel Lavezzi could find himself lining up alongside City's Joleon Lescott (left) and Vincent Kompany (right) rather than against them as he is here

Moving on? Ezequiel Lavezzi could find himself lining up alongside City's Joleon Lescott (left) and Vincent Kompany (right) rather than against them as he is here

The attack came just days after the pregnant wife of Lavezzi's Napoli team-mate Marek Hamsik was carjacked at gunpoint.

An angry Screpante hit out at the lack of protection from thieves on Twitter and threatened to leave the city altogether.

'When they say that in Argentina there is insecurity ... the city of Naples is ****,' she wrote. 'I have had my watch stolen at gunpoint.'

Screpante later removed the comments after receiving criticism from her followers and tweeted: 'I’m sorry to the Neapolitans. I was just letting off steam.'

City boss Mancini played down any move for Lavezzi, stating he already had enough striking options at his disposal, but also did not rule it out in future completely.

One for the future? City boss Roberto Mancini has not ruled out move for Lavezzi

One for the future? City boss Roberto Mancini has not ruled out move for Lavezzi

Napoli president, meanwhile, Aurelio de Laurentiis attempted to assure the Argentina international, who played against City in the 2-1 home win over Mancini's side in the Champions League last week, of his family’s safety.

'Naples is no more violent than Milan or Rome, which I would call the real crime capital of Italy,' said the Hollywood mogul.

'Certain comments in the heat of the moment came from the heightened emotion. I would like to tell Yanina that during a recession she shouldn’t go round with a Rolex on her wrist.

'Her scared reaction is justified. Maybe she’s not yet ‘Neapolitan’ enough to deal with this sort of thing.

'Perhaps the girl thought she was untouchable, being Lavezzi’s girlfriend, but that is not the case. In any case, Naples is a marvellous city and the people are generous.'

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