Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who played a pivotal role in Napoli's Scudetto win two seasons ago, finds himself in a challenging situation as he has been left out of the club's official 23-man Serie A squad for the current season. This decision comes after Osimhen's anticipated move away from Napoli failed to materialize.
Osimhen, known for his impressive goal-scoring abilities with 26 goals for Napoli, has seen a downturn in his fortunes at the club. Despite signing a contract extension in December that was set to keep him at Napoli until 2026, the player's future has been uncertain. The contract reportedly includes a release clause of €130 million.
Speculation about Osimhen's departure intensified when Napoli's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, announced that the player would be leaving at the end of the season. Potential destinations for Osimhen included Chelsea and Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli.
As the transfer window deadlines in Italy and England approached, negotiations between the parties continued. However, it was reported that Chelsea did not meet Osimhen's wage demands, leading to a potential move to Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
Despite Al Ahli's interest, Napoli ultimately rejected their offer. Subsequently, Al Ahli secured the services of Ivan Toney from Brentford for a reported fee of £40 million. Meanwhile, Chelsea made a significant signing by bringing in Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan.
The situation surrounding Victor Osimhen's future remains uncertain as he remains at Napoli without a place in the squad for the current Serie A campaign. Fans and observers will be eager to see how this saga unfolds in the coming weeks and months.
