Victor Osimhen’s situation at Napoli has dramatically worsened after the club’s management reportedly decided he will no longer play for the first team.
This development follows a failed attempt by the Super Eagles striker to leave the club on the final day of the transfer window.
Osimhen, who was linked with moves to top clubs like PSG, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, remained stuck at Napoli due to his high wage demands and the club’s firm stance.
Despite Chelsea’s last-minute push and unsuccessful negotiations with Al-Ahli, the transfer did not materialize.
With the Saudi Arabian transfer window still open until Monday, Osimhen’s future at Napoli remains uncertain.
However, he has been excluded from the squad list for the upcoming season and relegated to training with the U23 side after expressing his desire to leave the Serie A club.
In a surprising move, Napoli initially stripped Osimhen of the iconic number 9 jersey, handing it to Romelu Lukaku, who recently joined the club from Chelsea.
A few hours later, the club reversed this decision, assigning Lukaku the number 11 jersey instead, allowing Osimhen to retain his number 9.
Despite this, the Super Eagles striker remains unregistered for the 2024/25 Serie A season.
Osimhen has worn the number 9 jersey since joining Napoli in 2020, taking over from Fernando Llorente.
Amid the ongoing controversy, former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo expressed his support for Osimhen, addressing the criticism the striker has faced over his failed transfer.
In an X post on Sunday, Ighalo stated,“No human being is perfect and we have all made mistakes in life, but seeing comments about this young man from his own country people makes me really sad, without even knowing what happened.
“I spoke to him and I can feel the pain in his voice, the way he’s been treated.
“This young man plays with heart and pains for his country. Hmmm it’s well, he will definitely be back stronger. We learn everyday in life.”
