Napoli’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Manna, has attributed the ongoing tensions between the club and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to Osimhen’s decision to stop playing for Napoli.
Manna revealed that Osimhen had expressed a strong desire to leave the club since the end of the previous season, which led Napoli to seek potential transfers for the striker.
On transfer deadline day, Osimhen’s possible moves to Chelsea and Saudi club Al Ahli fell apart. Chelsea decided to sign Jadon Sancho, while Al Ahli opted for a less expensive deal with Ivan Toney. After these failed transfers, Napoli excluded Osimhen from their Serie A squad and reassigned his number 9 shirt to new signing Romelu Lukaku, further straining relations between the player and the club.
Manna explained that Napoli had tried to accommodate Osimhen’s wish to leave by negotiating with interested clubs. However, when the deals didn’t materialize, Napoli had to adjust their plans. The club brought in Lukaku and retained players like Raspadori and Simeone, which Manna described as a significant move under the circumstances.
Addressing rumors about Osimhen potentially joining another Saudi club, Manna acknowledged that while the transfer market in Saudi Arabia remains open, it is unlikely that Osimhen will make a move there during this session. This leaves Osimhen’s future uncertain as the situation continues to develop.
The unresolved issue has also placed a significant financial burden on Napoli. The club had planned to use the funds from Osimhen’s sale to finance new transfers, but with the sale falling through, Napoli’s president had to take on the financial risks to invest in the club’s future. The situation highlights the growing tension and its impact on Napoli’s strategic planning.
