Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has pointed the finger at Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, accusing him of being responsible for the current tensions between himself and the club. The fallout began after Osimhen’s potential moves to Premier League side Chelsea and Saudi club Al Ahli fell through on transfer deadline day.
Osimhen’s transfer saga ended dramatically, with Chelsea opting to sign Jadon Sancho and Al Ahli choosing a less expensive option in Ivan Toney. Following the collapse of these moves, Osimhen was notably excluded from Napoli’s Serie A squad and stripped of his number 9 shirt, which was subsequently handed to new signing Romelu Lukaku.
Manna addressed the situation in an interview with DAZN, stating, “The situation is very clear, it has been since the end of last season. Victor expressed his absolute desire to not stay at Napoli, to not play for Napoli, and we tried to make him happy.” He further explained that although negotiations were nearly concluded, they ultimately fell apart, forcing Napoli to make alternative decisions, including the acquisition of Lukaku and retaining Raspadori and Simeone.
Manna also commented on the potential of Osimhen joining another Saudi club, noting that while the transfer market is still open, he doesn’t believe Osimhen will make the move during this transfer window.
The director acknowledged that the failed sale of Osimhen has had significant financial implications for Napoli, as the club had planned to use the funds from his transfer to finance new acquisitions. He praised Napoli’s president for stepping in to invest and take on the financial risk after the sale did not materialize.
