Napoli’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Manna, has confirmed that Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has been excluded from Antonio Conte’s senior squad, following a failed transfer to Chelsea on deadline day.
Osimhen, 25, had been absent from Napoli’s pre-season games and senior team training since the start of the month, in an attempt to force a move away from the Italian club. However, the transfer fell through due to disagreements over salary expectations, leaving Osimhen with no choice but to continue his football journey with Napoli.
The Napoli hierarchy was unhappy with Osimhen’s handling of the situation. Recently, new coach Antonio Conte gave Osimhen’s iconic number 9 shirt to new signing Romelu Lukaku. This move indicates Conte’s preference for the Belgian striker as the focal point for the upcoming season, and by implication, Napoli Football Club have officially excluded Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen from their Serie A squad list of first-team appearances for the season, with Manna stating that the club has made “other choices”.
In an interview with DAZN, Manna expressed confidence in Napoli’s ability to cope without Osimhen, citing significant investments in the team, including the signing of Lukaku and the retention of Raspadori and Simeone.
“We’ve made significant investments; we brought in Lukaku and kept Raspadori and Simeone, which wasn’t guaranteed. Right now, we are sticking to our consistent approach that we’ve had from the start. Victor has expressed his desire not to play for Napoli, and we have made other choices,” Manna said.
Manna also ruled out the possibility of Osimhen moving to Saudi Arabia in the current transfer window, stating, “The market is still open, there are many options, but I don’t think Victor will be going to Saudi Arabia in this transfer window.”
Osimhen missed Napoli’s clash against Parma and his future in Conte’s first-team squad remains uncertain. It is unclear if he will be given opportunities to play in Napoli’s remaining games this year.
Sadly, Osimhen may not play professional club football again until January, as the relationship between the Nigerian and Napoli looks visibly broken and unless he moves to Saudi, he will start training with the Napoli U-21s.
