Antonio Conte confirms Victor Osimhen’s exile from Napoli after failed Chelsea transfer
Napoli’s head coach, Antonio Conte, has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been sidelined from the first team following the collapse of his potential transfer to Chelsea during the summer window.
Chelsea had made a strong push to sign Osimhen, but negotiations with Napoli ultimately broke down, leaving the Premier League club empty-handed as the transfer deadline passed. The primary obstacle in the talks was Chelsea’s reported unwillingness to match Osimhen’s current salary or the substantial offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli.
Despite Chelsea’s efforts, Osimhen rejected their proposal, abruptly ending discussions and leaving the club’s officials frustrated. With the transfer window now closed, Osimhen remains a Napoli player, but Conte has made it clear that the striker is not part of his future plans.
This was evident when Osimhen was left out of Napoli’s squad for their dramatic Serie A victory over Parma, where new signing Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact by scoring.
Commenting on Napoli’s transfer activity, Conte stated, “Strong players have arrived from a market that was difficult and at times blocked. They came to fill the slots, and I’m happy with the work done by the club.” However, he added a pointed remark directed at Osimhen, saying, “Of course, if Osimhen had been sold, we would have completed the situation better.”
Conte’s comments suggest that Osimhen’s future at Napoli is bleak, potentially pushing the forward to reconsider a move to Saudi Arabia, especially as Al Ahli recently secured a deal for England’s Ivan Toney.
In the meantime, Conte praised his squad’s resilience following their comeback win over Parma, while also acknowledging the need for further improvement within the team.
