Romano reveals Napoli's Osimhen stance after coaching change
Tom Weber
- Updated: 15 Nov 2023 17:33 GMT
- 3 min read
Fabrizio Romano has revealed Napoli's stance on a potential transfer of Victor Osimhen amid the ongoing coaching turmoil.
It has not been a happy title-defending season for last term's Scudetto winners. Under Luciano Spalletti, Napoli ended a 33-year drought, finally winning Serie A again thanks in no small part to the goals of Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian subsequently became one of Europe's most sought-after players, but he decided to stay in Italy despite, as he recently admitted, being tempted by Al-Hilal's ridiculous financial package, which "the more I said no to these people, the more they increased it and increased it."
Spalletti, however, departed in the summer, plunging Napoli into crisis. Rudi Garcia struggled for a while to get Osimhen and fellow star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia firing, with both players reacting angrily to being substituted by the coach at one point, giving a rare glimpse behind the facade that the Frenchman was failing to win over his new players.
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Garcia has now been sacked and Walter Mazzarri brought back to the club. This chaos, as well as Osimhen threatening legal action against his club over TikTok posts, has given renewed fervour to rumours linking the 24-year-old with a move away. Indeed, long-time admirers Chelsea are said to be "confident" that he will join them, but Fabrizio Romano insists that Napoli's stance on a sale has not changed despite the coaching turmoil.
What did Romano say?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Italian said: "Napoli changed manager, horrible beginning of the new season for the coach Rudi Garcia despite their winning the Serie A title last season with Luciano Spalletti as the coach. For Rudi Garcia, it was not the same thing and so Napoli appointed Walter Mazzarri."
"But Napoli have not changed their position - despite having a manager on short-term because Mazzarri only signed until the end of the season and it's not a positive season for Napoli - so far they have not changed their position on Osimhen."
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"They're still not intent on selling Victor Osimhen in January. Their priority is to keep Osimhen in January, to push again with the contract extension. But at the moment, there is no agreement at all between Napoli and Osimhen, so maybe the time to sell him could be in the summer."
