Oluwatosin Enesi
Despite interest from clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli face the possibility of keeping Osimhen at the club for another season at the risk of failing to sign their top targets in the transfer market.
Conte frustrated by Osimhen transfer stalemate Napoli’s 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona in their Serie A opener has only intensified the pressure on the club’s management.
Antonio Conte, in his return to Italian football, was vocal about his frustration, blaming the transfer impasse for the weakened squad that took to the field. Key players, including Osimhen, were left out of the squad due to potential transfers, leaving Conte with limited options.
Speaking after the match, Napoli’s sporting director Manna echoed Conte’s concerns about Osimhen’s transfer, saying, “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.”
Napoli upset by lack of transfer movement
As the transfer window nears its end, the future of the Nigeria international remains uncertain, with Manna noting that Napoli will have no choice but to welcome Osimhen back into the team if a solution is not found, saying, “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.”
The club director, however, stressed that Napoli were unhappy with the situation of Osimhen’s exit blocking potential arrivals, adding, “Absolutely not. We too are not happy with this situation, we wanted to be more ready for the start of the season.
“We didn’t manage it [More signings] for many reasons, the most obvious being the one we just talked about.”
Napoli’s main target for the window is Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku, whose transfer is expected to be funded by Osimhen’s sale, while the Partenopei also hope on Brighton’s Billy Gilmour having already welcomed David Neres from Benfica.
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