Victor Osimhen has reportedly been excluded from Napoli’s squad list for the rest of the season following an unsuccessful deadline day move to Chelsea.
Victor Osimhen has reportedly been excluded from Napoli‘s squad list for the season following an unsuccessful deadline day move to Chelsea.
The Nigerian international was strongly connected with a move to Stamford Bridge on Friday, but despite a late offer from the Blues, they were unable to finalize a deal before the transfer cutoff.
Al Ahli were also negotiating a deal for Osimhen on deadline day, but with only one remaining international slot in their squad, and with Osimhen seemingly preferring a move to Stamford Bridge, the Saudi Pro League side opted to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford instead.
The situation leaves Osimhen still on Napoli’s roster but effectively sidelined, as Antonio Conte seems to have no intention of including the 25-year-old striker in his plans.
© Imago
Napoli drop Osimhen from squad roster
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has disclosed that the relationship between Osimhen and Napoli is now “broken,” with no chance of reconciliation following his unsuccessful attempt to leave the 2022-23 Serie A champions on deadline day.
Romano added that while it was already expected that Osimhen would not feature for Napoli against Lecce on Saturday, it has now been confirmed that Gli Azzurri have officially excluded the 25-year-old from their Serie A squad list for the entire season.
It is also understood that the club have stripped Osimhen of his number nine jersey, handing it to Romelu Lukaku, who was signed from Chelsea earlier this week as his replacement.
Lukaku has reunited with Conte who he worked under at Inter Milan and is now set to be Napoli’s main striker this season, with Osimhen frozen out.
Osimhen netted 26 league goals in the 2022-23 season, helping Napoli secure their first title in 33 years, and followed that with 15 goals last term.
© Reuters
What next for Victor Osimhen?
The Saudi transfer window remains open, so Al Ahli or another club in the Middle East could emerge with an offer to provide Osimhen with a way out.
However, very few teams are likely to be able to afford the striker, who currently pockets in the region of £8.5m per year in wages.
Another major obstacle for potential suitors is Osimhen’s staggering release fee, which is currently set at £113m.
If no team comes forward in the next few days, the 25-year-old attacker looks likely to have to wait until the January window opens for European clubs to try and secure an exit.