Osimhen out in the cold, dropped from Napoli’s Coppa Italia squad

Published on by Andrew Randa

The ongoing transfer saga surrounding Super Eagle striker Victor Osimhen has taken another turn as he was left out of Napoli's squad for their Coppa Italia clash against Modena.

The 25-year-old forward, who joined Napoli from French side Lille in 2020 for a then-club record fee of €68 million, finds himself in a state of limbo as his future remains uncertain. Napoli set a release clause of €130 million, a figure that has scared off many potential suitors.

Osimhen's exclusion from the matchday squad is a clear indication of the turmoil surrounding his transfer situation.

Victor Osimhen out in the cold, dropped from Napoli's Coppa Italia squad
Photo by IMAGO

He has not featured in any of Napoli's pre-season friendlies, further fueling speculation about his imminent departure.

Where will Victor Osimhen end up this season?

Among the clubs interested in Osimhen are Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), but the French giants are reportedly unwilling to meet Napoli's hefty valuation.

Chelsea also entered the race for the Nigeria international, even exploring the possibility of including Romelu Lukaku as part of the deal. However, this approach has yet to yield any positive results, and Osimhen reportedly rejected a loan move to Stamford Bridge, indicating his preference for a permanent transfer.

Arsenal were also reportedly ready to table a bid, but nothing has come out of that report.

As the transfer window nears its close, Osimhen has been training separately from Napoli's main squad, working out at the club's training center while awaiting a resolution to his situation.

His €325,000 weekly wages have also proven to be a stumbling block, with several clubs hesitant to match his current salary, and despite receiving lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian clubs, Osimhen has expressed no interest in moving to the Middle East, making it clear that his priority is to remain in Europe.

Osimhen out in the cold, dropped from Napoli’s Coppa Italia squad

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)