Giovanni Branchini, who represents both Gabriel Jesus and Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri, was seen at the club's training camp in Castel di Sangro on Friday, immediately fuelling speculation over a potential move.
Branchini played down the visit when approached by Corriere dello Sport.
"My trip wasn't connected to Gabriel Jesus, but to entirely different matters that you all seem to have already worked out," he said, referring instead to ongoing discussions over a contract renewal for midfielder Frank Anguissa.
Pressed further, Branchini described months of background interest in the Brazilian without any concrete Napoli involvement.
"For several months, many clubs have been sounding out the player's situation to understand the intentions and numbers, Arsenal's expectations. I had three Italian clubs and a potential fourth show interest at a stage when it looked like they might be about to sell an important forward from their squad. They had in mind the possibility of trying for Gabriel," he said.
"Aside from a couple of Turkish clubs, rejected because there's no interest in going to Turkey, there have been no other significant talks."
On Napoli specifically, he added: "We have never spoken about this situation: there has never been any negotiation and, as a result, there could be no green light from us or from the player. Dreaming, possibly, is an option under certain conditions that don't currently exist at this stage. And to say otherwise is unfair to both Napoli and Gabriel Jesus."
The scepticism was echoed, in far blunter terms, by former Napoli forward Faustinho Cané. Speaking to La Repubblica, Cané was unconvinced by the idea of pursuing Gabriel Jesus specifically.
"I obviously know him well, I follow all the Brazilian players. Personally I have some doubts. He earns a lot and has had various physical problems. I think he's already given his best," he said.
Cané instead pointed to central defence as Napoli's real priority in the market, with Alessandro Buongiorno set for a lengthy spell out and Napoli teammate Luca Marianucci also sidelined after a recent injury against Celta Vigo. He was more encouraging about youngsters such as Antonio Vergara, Alisson Santos and Giovane, urging the club to trust them with regular minutes, and suggested Lorenzo Lucca could still have a role to play after a promising loan spell at Udinese.
On the Champions League, Cané noted it remains a long-standing ambition for club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, adding that with a little more luck in recent seasons Napoli would have deserved a place in the final.