Napoli’s management has come under fire from Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport for their handling of star striker Victor Osimhen’s transfer situation.
The Nigerian forward, who has been linked with moves to Chelsea and PSG, was notably absent from Napoli’s squad in their Serie A opener against Hellas Verona.
Despite extensive transfer speculation, no club has yet matched Victor Osimhen’s €130 million release clause.
A Disappointing Start for Napoli
Antonio Conte’s Napoli endured a dismal start to their 2024-25 Serie A campaign, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi.
With Osimhen pushing for a transfer and not even included on the bench, Napoli were left relying on Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone in attack.
However, the absence of their prolific striker was keenly felt, as Napoli struggled to find the back of the net.
Questions Raised Over Transfer Management
G.B. Olivero, a journalist for La Gazzetta dello Sport, questioned the wisdom of Napoli’s approach to Osimhen’s situation. “Conte can’t score goals.”
He highlighted the club’s promise to sell the forward, made by Conte during his unveiling press conference, but noted that with no concrete offers on the table, it seems wasteful not t o utilize a player of Osimhen’s caliber.
Osimhen have been warned by a Nigerian Prophet to avoid moving to Chelsea in a recent report from SportsBuddy.
“There would be no problem if they already had a replacement, but Lukaku is still waiting for the green light, so Conte can neither start the Belgian nor the Nigerian, who may leave,” added Olivero.
The Search for a Replacement
Napoli has reportedly identified Romelu Lukaku as a potential replacement for Osimhen, but negotiations with Chelsea have stalled, with the London club unwilling to accept offers below €43 million.
This leaves Napoli in a precarious position, unable to start either Osimhen, who may soon depart, or Lukaku, whose arrival is still uncertain.
The situation has left Conte without a reliable striker to lead the line, a problem that was evident in their lackluster performance against Verona.
As the transfer window nears its end, Napoli will need to resolve Osimhen’s future quickly or risk further damaging their chances in the league.
