Napoli’s Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, is poised to leave the club in the upcoming summer transfer window and is eyeing potential moves to “either Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, or an English club,” revealed the Italian club’s president and owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, on Friday.
De Laurentiis responded to an interview given by Osimhen to CBS, where the 25-year-old mentioned that he had already made a decision about his next destination. Despite signing a contract extension with Napoli in December, Osimhen’s intention to explore new opportunities has been anticipated.
The striker’s contract reportedly includes a release clause ranging between 120 and 130 million euros ($130 million to $141 million). Osimhen, the top scorer in Serie A last season with 26 goals, played a crucial role in Napoli securing their first league title since 1990.
De Laurentiis acknowledged the long-standing awareness of Osimhen’s potential departure, stating, “We’ve known all this since last summer, which is also why negotiations for the extension of his contract, although friendly, took so long.”
Despite Napoli’s challenging season, currently ninth in the league and out of the Italian Cup, Osimhen’s impressive track record has attracted interest from major European clubs. Napoli’s owner confirmed, “We know he’s either going to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, or an English club.”
Osimhen, named African Player of the Year in 2023, joined Napoli from Lille in 2020, accumulating 67 goals in 119 appearances across all competitions.
Napoli has experienced a turbulent season, witnessing a managerial change after coach Luciano Spalletti departed following the title win. De Laurentiis clarified that hiring Jose Mourinho is not on the agenda, dispelling rumours linking the renowned coach to Napoli’s future.
