Victor Osimhen sacked by Napoli

Friday’s transfer deadline likely did not go as Victor Osimhen had hoped, as the Nigerian failed to secure a move away from his current employers, Napoli.

The Serie A club had already signed Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea as a replacement and Osimhen was expected to sign for the Blues in the summer.

Osimhen out of Napoli squad after failed transfer

The West Londoners had reportedly been approaching him all summer, but even as the transfer window drew to a close, there was still no talk of a deal.

It is believed that Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli have agreed a deal with Partnopei, offering the player double his €12.8 million annual salary at Napoli (Capology).

??? BREAKING: Napoli reaches full agreement with Al Ahli over Victor Osimhen!

Club-to-club deal completed for €75/80m total package, Al Ahli have already completed a medical.

Four-year contract worth €25/30m per season net for Osimhen + RELEASE clause.

The final green light goes to Victor. photo.twitter.com/EEAm9mdtgJ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2024

Despite this, Osimhen never gave his approval for that particular deal and apparently stuck with Chelsea.

Unfortunately for him, that game of risk management backfired as it became clear that the Blues’ offer was not acceptable to him.

As things stood on Saturday morning, Victor Osimhen is still a Napoli player and unless a Saudi club comes calling for him in the coming days – and he accepts – he will remain in Naples.

Victor #Osimhen stays with @sscnapoli and should be out of the selection. @SkySport

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) August 30, 2024

The problem for him, as reliable Italian football journalist Gianluca Di Marzio notes, is that this leaves him out of Napoli’s first-team squad.

Antonio Conte clearly prefers Lukaku as a striker, meaning there is no place in the squad for Osimhen unless the Belgian gets injured.

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For a player who was recently the team’s key man as they won their first Serie A title in 30 years, it’s an incredible turnaround in fortunes and there’s every chance of finger-pointing.

Nobody knows what his career will look like from now on.