‘ Napoli will not stop Osimhen, others from leaving ‘ – Aurelio De Laurentiis confirms
Napoli chairman, Aurelio De Laurentiis has disclosed that he lacks the authority to prevent players from departing the club if they so desire.
During his time, the Italian has witnessed the departures of several star players such as Gonzalo Higuain, Edinson Cavani, and Min-Jae Kim, and another potential exit wouldn’t faze the 74-year-old.
Napoli’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, has been linked with a move abroad ever since his remarkable goal-scoring form peaked last season. However, the club has safeguarded his services with a £113m release clause in the 25-year-old’s contract.
Chelsea, seeking a traditional striker to address their scoring woes, have identified the Nigerian forward as a potential solution. Yet, they face strong competition from Arsenal and French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain.
De Laurentiis conceded recently that he lacks the authority to compel players to remain in Naples against their wishes.
“Some players develop an affection for Napoli and choose to stay, like Marek Hamsik for eleven years, or others for eight years, while others are enticed by clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea. Hence, it’s futile to prevent their departure, particularly when there’s a predetermined sum for their acquisition,” the President stated at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, according to quotes disclosed by The Athletic.
When questioned about the potential departure of former LOSC Lille striker Victor Osimhen, De Laurentiis hinted at the possibility of the Nigerian’s exit, but he remains composed, knowing that a suitable replacement will be secured.
“He has a release clause. It’s a substantial sum of money. Who knows who will leave, time will tell. Financial constraints are not a concern for Napoli. We’ve consistently made astute acquisitions in the past, and we will continue to do so in the future,” he remarked.
Despite Osimhen’s eleven goals and three assists in the Italian Serie A this season, Napoli still lags behind in the race for European qualification.
