Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has shed light on the club’s controversial decision to exclude Victor Osimhen from Antonio Conte’s squad for the season.

Osimhen was expected to leave Napoli this summer, with strong links to Chelsea, but negotiations broke down as the transfer window closed without a deal.

Despite interest from Chelsea, the deal fell through due to a disparity in salary expectations, coupled with Napoli’s firm stance on the asking price, which the club refused to lower.

Osimhen, on the other hand, was not willing to accept a pay cut.

The 25-year-old striker had made his intentions clear from the start, opting not to train with Napoli’s first team since the start of the month.

His absence was felt in all of Napoli’s pre-season games as he seemingly prepared to leave the club.

However, with no deal being finalised, new Napoli manager Antonio Conte quickly moved on, integrating Romelu Lukaku on a permanent transfer from Chelsea into his plans as the club’s main striker.

Napoli subsequently officially announced, just hours after the transfer window closed, that Osimhen had been removed from their squad for the season.

The decision leaves the reigning African Player of the Year sidelined until January, when the transfer window reopens and he can explore new opportunities.

In an interview with DAZN, Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna explained the club’s position:

“We have made significant investments: we signed Lukaku and kept Raspadori and Simeone, which was not guaranteed. At the moment, we are sticking to our consistent approach that we have had from the beginning.

“Victor has expressed his desire not to play for Napoli and we have made other decisions. The market is still open, there are many options, but I don’t think Victor will go to Saudi Arabia in this transfer window,” Manni said in statements collected by Napoli Zone.

While Osimhen’s future at Napoli remains uncertain, Super Eagles fans can look forward to seeing him in action soon.

The striker is expected to return to the pitch to represent Nigeria in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda in September.

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