Osimhen agent slams 'fake news' amid Chelsea loan links

Tom Weber

Updated: 30 Jul 2024 08:37 CDT
3 min read

Victor Osimhen reacts to Napoli's Serie A defeat to Bologna, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Victor Osimhen's agent Roberto Calenda has hit out at 'fake news' being spread about his client's future.

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Earlier on Tuesday, The Athletic's David Ornstein reported that Chelsea had opened talks with Napoli over a potential swap deal involving Osimhen and Romelu Lukaku.

This came after Fabrizio Romano had revealed that Napoli were now open to such a deal after talks with PSG had fully collapsed, as revealed by FootballTransfers.

Ornstein stated that initial talks were taking place, with Lukaku set to join Napoli permanently, while Chelsea would potentially only loan Osimhen with an option to buy the Nigerian next summer.

However, Osimhen's agent has now got involved in the story, seemingly hitting out at Ornstein's reporting.

'Imaginative exchanges' and 'fake news'

Roberto Calenda, the striker's representative, took to X to express his outrage at what he called 'imaginative reporting' and 'fake news.' He wrote: "I read about imaginative exchanges with Victor sent here and there as if he were a package to be delivered quickly."

"This package, however, is the top scorer of the third scudetto in Napoli's history. Respect and stop with fake news!" Calenda clearly appears to be upset about the idea of a swap deal.

It is important to note that Ornstein never actually did mention the terms 'swap' or 'exchange.' In fact, he merely stated that talks for both strikers were taking place, with them potentially heading in opposite directions.

He never stated whether it would formally be a 'swap' deal or two separate transactions, the likes of which we have seen many of this summer, especially involving Chelsea.

The Blues, of course, sent Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa before signing Omari Kellyman in a 'separate' deal in order for both clubs to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules. They also signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester, while Michael Golding headed the other way.