Nigeria Players Abroad
Napoli faults Victor Osimhen over frustrating transfer plans
By Monsurah Olatunji
Following Napoli’s 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona in their Serie A opener, the club’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has criticized Victor Osimhen for disrupting the team’s transfer plans.
Manna pointed out that Osimhen’s unresolved transfer situation has led to significant delays in Napoli’s efforts to strengthen their squad.
Osimhen, who has been linked with high-profile clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain, has a hefty €130 million release clause that none of these clubs have yet met.
His ongoing transfer saga is causing issues for Napoli, who now face the possibility of retaining him for another season, potentially jeopardizing their plans to sign their top transfer targets.
New manager Antonio Conte has also expressed frustration over the transfer impasse, attributing part of the squad’s weakness in the opener to the unsettled situation involving key players like Osimhen.
Manna echoed Conte’s concerns, stating, “It’s an objective fact, what the coach said, the situation is blocked. Victor is an important player, with an important value and conditions. His desire is clear, and we tried to maintain the integrity of the squad at this moment.”
He further explained, “He [Victor Osimhen] is under contract for another two seasons, so clearly if we don’t find a solution by August 30, we’ll have to talk to the player. We too are not happy with this situation, we wanted to be more ready for the start of the season.”
In the midst of this uncertainty, Napoli’s primary transfer target is Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku. The move for Lukaku is expected to be funded by Osimhen’s sale.
Additionally, Napoli are also keen on signing Brighton’s Billy Gilmour and have already secured the arrival of David Neres from Benfica.
