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Well, it was fun to dream on while it lasted: a couple of days after rumors first emerged of a possibility of Real Madrid striker Javier Hernández coming to Napoli, any realistic hope of such a deal happening are all but dead.
Chicharito has reportedly, though his agent, rejected an offer to head to MLS, with expansion side Orlando City wanting to bring him in to pair with Kaka as they try to take MLS by storm in their first season. MLS has been eager to bring Hernández to America for years, thinking that the 26 year old face of Mexican football would be a huge draw for the growing league. Apparently, though, Chicharito has no intention of heading back across the Atlantic any time soon, feeling it's too early in his career to move away from Europe.
So what does this have to do with Napoli, you ask? We're getting to that.
The report goes on to specify that Hernández, who is on loan at Madrid from English Premier League side Manchester United, would much rather to either stay in La Liga or return to the EPL. That wouldn't be with Manchester, where he no longer really fits, but United would have to sell him either way this summer as Chicharito has just one year left on his contract. Apparently he'd be willing to "try" the Bundesliga as well, with his skillset one that could easily find success in Germany.
Notice which league is rather absent from that list? That's right, Serie A.
Despite talk last week that Chicharito was interested in a move to Italy, with Napoli on his shortlist, such talk has cooled dramatically since then. Now it appears that any rumors of an Italian adventure for Hernández would simply be to help create better leverage in negotiations, either by Manchester to drive up his sale price or by his agent in contract talks.
It's a shame, because Chicharito who could have been a fun and useful part of Napoli's squad. The hope isn't entirely dead -- if Hernandez struggles to find a home early in the summer, Napoli could re-emerge as an option. Until that happens, though, it looks like Napoli will need to search elsewhere for striking options.