Last summer, after ending a 33-year wait for a Scudetto, De Laurentiis took significant risks to retain much of the title-winning squad. However, the departure of manager Luciano Spaletti and Bayern Munich’s acquisition of Kim Min-jae have created defensive gaps. Despite strong interest from Paris Saint-Germain and a rejected €130 million bid from Saudi Arabia for Osimhen, Napoli now faces the prospect of losing the striker.
De Laurentiis is now prepared to cash in on Osimhen following a season marred by injuries and discord, possibly accepting an offer below the striker’s €120 million release clause. The Napoli president had been anticipating Osimhen’s departure since last summer, foreseeing potential moves to Real Madrid, PSG, or an English club.
De Laurentiis stated, “That’s why the contract negotiations were protracted and friendly… but we were well aware that he could go to Real Madrid, PSG, or an English team.”
As for Osimhen’s next move, while Real Madrid is focused on securing Kylian Mbappé and PSG is reportedly his preferred destination, negotiations with various clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal, continue. Amidst these discussions, Osimhen’s future remains uncertain as the summer transfer window progresses.