Napoli have been criticised over its handling of the Victor Osimhen contract situation.
As the 2023 Serie A champions opened their season against Hella Verona Sunday, coach Antonio Conte is without a goal scorer, while Osimhen who has scored most of their goals in two seasons is left languishing on the sideline because of the lack of offer for his services partly due to the high release clause of €130m
In Sunday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist G.B. Olivero wrote: “It’s natural to wonder if the management of Osimhen from the club has been impeccable.
“They have to honour their promise to sell, as Conte said during his unveiling press conference, but without an offer and an actual negotiation, why haven’t the club used a champion who, moreover, has been abundantly paid?”
“There would be no problem if they already had a replacement, but Romelu Lukaku is still waiting for the green light, so Conte can neither start the Belgian nor the Nigerian, who may leave.
“Picking Conte and leaving him without a striker (and other elements) for the season debut is a negative signal for Napoli, who can’t afford a slow start, and Conte can’t work miracles or score goals.”
Meanwhile there has been no breakthrough in the swap deal negotiation between Chelsea and Napoli for Osimhen and Lukaku. Osimhen is reluctant to join Chelsea due to lack of Champions League football, he prefers a move to PSG he already agreed terms with. Chelsea are unwilling to accept offers below €43m for Lukaku.
Osimhen has amassed 76 goals and 18 assists in 133 matches for Napoli in all competitions, but he has been frozen out of the squad on account of his desire to leave this summer.
