Napoli’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Manna, has addressed the club’s controversial decision to exclude star forward Victor Osimhen from Antonio Conte’s first team, Football Italia reports.
The move follows a tumultuous summer in which the 25-year-old Nigerian international attempted to force a transfer, reportedly to Chelsea, only for the deal to fall through due to disagreements over salary expectations.
Related article: Osimhen’s Salary Soars to 10 Million Euros After Extension With Napoli
Osimhen’s Salary Soars to 10 Million Euros After Extension With Napoli
Osimhen, who has not trained with Napoli’s senior squad since early August, was notably absent from the club’s pre-season matches, further straining his relationship with the club’s management. In response, Napoli handed his iconic number 9 jersey to Romelu Lukaku, a recent signing from Chelsea, and effectively sidelined Osimhen from first-team duties.
In an interview with DAZN, Manna justified the club’s actions, stating,
“We’ve made significant investments; we brought in Lukaku and kept Raspadori and Simeone, which wasn’t guaranteed. Victor has expressed his desire not to play for Napoli, and we have made other choices.”
Manna also hinted that while the transfer market remains open, a move to Saudi Arabia for Osimhen is unlikely.
Napoli, under new coach Antonio Conte, has had a rocky start to the season, securing only one win so far. The exclusion of Osimhen, the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, from the squad adds further challenges as the club navigates the new season.
