Osimhen’s Napoli saga has taken a fresh twist, with reports in Italy indicating that the club may now refuse to sell the prolific striker unless his €75 million release clause is met.
After smashing 37 goals and laying on eight assists during a stunning loan spell at Galatasaray that delivered both the Süper Lig title and Cup, the Nigerian looked certain to depart Naples for a heavyweight European side.
Osimhen in action for Napoli, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess amid renewed talks of a possible stay.
Yet new boss Antonio Conte, according to Il Mattino via Tutto, has asked president Aurelio De Laurentiis to keep the Super Eagles talisman if no bidder matches the clause. Conte is convinced the 26-year-old can front a push for Napoli’s first UEFA Champions League crown.
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Liverpool, Manchester United, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid remain keen. The Reds even explored a Darwin Núñez swap, while a lucrative Al-Hilal offer was turned down as the forward insists on staying in Europe.
With alternatives such as Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca and Núñez proving hard to secure, Napoli have reopened talks on a €12 million-a-year deal. Should common ground be found, Osimhen could headline Conte’s new-look attack and convert last summer’s rift into the centrepiece of the club’s continental ambitions.
Twelve months ago, few imagined Osimhen would don the azure shirt again; now his potential return could define Napoli’s next era.
