In a surprising turn of events, Super Eagles of Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen has encountered significant setbacks at Italian Serie A club Napoli, following his decision to seek a transfer away from the team.
Reports have emerged that Osimhen has been excluded from Napoli’s squad, and in a further blow, his iconic number nine shirt has been reassigned to new signing Romelu Lukaku.
This development marks a dramatic shift for the star striker, who played a pivotal role in Napoli’s 2022-2023 Serie A title win, scoring 26 goals and providing five assists in 32 league matches.
Osimhen, who had expressed his desire to leave the club ahead of the current season, has been hindered by a hefty €130 million release clause in the contract he signed in December 2023.
This clause reportedly deterred several top European clubs, including Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea, and Arsenal, from securing his signature during the summer transfer window.
Chelsea came closest to signing the Nigerian striker, pursuing his signature until the final day of the transfer window. However, the deal ultimately fell through due to Osimhen’s wage demands.
Amidst the ongoing transfer saga, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal that Napoli has officially reassigned the number nine shirt to Lukaku, further signaling the club’s shift away from Osimhen.
Romano tweeted, “Victor Osimhen has been excluded by Napoli’s Serie A squad list… and also number 9 will NO longer be on his shirt. Napoli have decided to give number 9 to Romelu Lukaku with immediate effect.”
This latest development adds to the uncertainty surrounding Osimhen’s future at Napoli, leaving fans and football pundits alike eager to see what lies ahead for the prolific striker.
