'Many options' open for Osimhen amid Napoli exile, says director Manna

By Sports Desk September 01, 2024

Napoli director Giovanni Manna insists there are "many options" still open for Victor Osimhen, who has been exiled from their squad for the Serie A season after failing to clinch a transfer.

Osimhen was linked with a move to Premier League giants Chelsea or Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the recent transfer window, yet a switch failed to materialise.

Chelsea were reportedly unwilling to meet his wage demands, while Al-Ahli signed Brentford's Ivan Toney after Osimhen refused to move to Saudi Arabia.

Osimhen, who scored 26 goals in Napoli's Scudetto-winning campaign of 2022-23, has now been left out of Antonio Conte's Serie A squad, with Romelu Lukaku brought in as his replacement and taking the Nigerian's number nine shirt.

The striker now faces the prospect of sitting out four months until the January transfer window opens, unless Napoli can find a way to move him on.

"The situation is very clear. Victor expressed his absolute desire to not stay at, or play for, Napoli," Manna told DAZN on Saturday.

"We tried to make him happy. Then there was a demand and an offer, and we thought we had concluded negotiations, but then it didn't go through. 

"He expressed his desire to no longer play for Napoli and so we made other choices.

"The transfer market is still open in some countries, so there are many options, but I don't think Victor will go to Saudi Arabia."

Napoli picked up their second win of the Serie A season on Saturday, with stoppage-time goals from Lukaku and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa firing them to a 2-1 comeback victory over Parma.

After that game, Conte confirmed Osimhen was not part of his plans, saying: "No player will be reintegrated. 

"Those who are out of the project will remain out of the project. We made our choices and work in one direction all together."

Related items

  • Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham: Huijsen downs sorry Spurs Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham: Huijsen downs sorry Spurs

    Bournemouth moved into the top half of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium.

    Dean Huijsen scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute when the Spurs defence allowed the 19-year-old defender to head in unmarked from a Marcus Tavernier corner.

    The hosts had the chance to put the game to bed in the second half as Ryan Christie was denied by the woodwork and an Evanilson goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

    Tottenham were unable to make meaningful inroads throughout the first half and despite their performance picking up after the break, the visitors failed to find a way back and fell to their sixth league defeat of the season.

    Bournemouth leapfrogged their opponents into ninth place on 21 points, while Tottenham dropped to 10th, one point behind the Cherries.

    Data Debrief: Home comforts for Bournemouth

    Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth have now won four of their last five games at their home ground. What makes their home form even more impressive is the fact that they have beaten Arsenal 2-0 and champions Manchester City 2-1 during that run. 

    On Thursday, the Cherries attempted 21 shots, which was their highest total in a league match this season.

    They only scored one, but it proved decisive. Huijsen became Bournemouth’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Premier League at 19 years and 235 days and the third-youngest Spaniard, after Cesc Fabregas and Stefan Bajcetic.

    Meanwhile, Spurs have now lost seven of their last 11 away games in the league (W3 D1), as Ange Postecoglou's team, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half, failed to show anywhere close to their best form.

  • Lazio 3-1 Napoli: Noslin hat-trick fires Biancocelesti into Coppa Italia quarter-finals Lazio 3-1 Napoli: Noslin hat-trick fires Biancocelesti into Coppa Italia quarter-finals

    Tijjani Noslin's hat-trick booked Lazio's place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals following a 3-1 victory over Napoli.

    The Dutch forward's first treble of his career proved decisive at Stadio Olimpico, where Giovanni Simeone's strike proved nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

    Lazio were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute after Elia Caprile brought down Pedro, but the Napoli goalkeeper redeemed himself with a smart save to deny Mattia Zaccagni from 12 yards.

    Nevertheless, the hosts broke through in the 32nd minute. Samuel Gigot headed Loum Tchaouna's deep centre back across goal for Noslin to nod home.

    Simeone brought Napoli level four minutes later, tucking away a rebound after Christos Mandas could only parry David Neres' initial effort.

    However, Noslin put Lazio back in front within five minutes after Pedro cushioned a cross neatly into his path, before completing his hat-trick early in the second half when heading home Zaccagni's centre.

    Data Debrief: Another last-16 exit for Partenopei

    Lazio are through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals for a 14th consecutive season, after Noslin stole the show in Rome.

    The Dutchman had never previously in his career scored two goals in the same match, let alone three.

    Meanwhile, Napoli have now won just one of their last six away games in the Coppa Italia, and have exited the tournament at this stage in each of the last four seasons.

  • Silva hails 'amazing' Iwobi as Fulham down Brighton Silva hails 'amazing' Iwobi as Fulham down Brighton

    Marco Silva hailed the "amazing" job Alex Iwobi did, as his brace fired Fulham to a 3-1 win over Brighton at Craven Cottage on Thursday.

    The Nigeria international, playing in a more central midfield role, pounced on Bart Verbruggen's error after only four minutes to put the hosts ahead.

    And he rounded out the win with a fine curling effort three minutes from time, after Matt O'Riley's luckless own goal had restored Fulham's lead following Carlos Baleba's brilliant equaliser.

    Speaking to Amazon Prime, Cottagers boss Silva said of Iwobi: "This evening, we played with Alex Iwobi in a different position. He's an offensive player and did an amazing job this evening.

    "It was a big three points for us in a tough game. We started in the best way possible with the early goal, but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half. They started with three at the back, and it made it difficult for us to connect with the wide players.

    "We had chances as well. Second half, we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. [A] difficult game, but a big three points for us."

    Iwobi hinted his early opener was a product of Fulham's set-up, while he revelled in giving the home fans a "gift" with his expertly taken second late on.

    "We know Brighton like to play and so do we. I was able to capitalise on the high press," he said.

    "We know that Brighton like to play out from the back, so we came up with a structure, and it obviously worked for the first goal. We take it, however it goes in, a goal is a goal. We wanted a goal from a set-piece because we were a real threat last season.

    "It's [his second goal] a gift for Fulham and the fans. It was a good pass from Antonee Robinson, and it was a good finish."

    Lewis Dunk cut a frustrated figure after the game and felt he should have been awarded a free-kick for a foul from Issa Diop leading up to Fulham's second goal.

    The Brighton captain was particularly annoyed VAR failed to spot an infringement.

    "It was a foul," he said. "It was the same as the one on the halfway line and in the box. I jumped for the header, and he put his hands in my back.

    "How the ref or VAR can't see it, it is what it is. It was clear. It's annoying. If you watch the replay, it's a clear foul, a push in my back.

    "I don't think the scoreline reflects the game. We picked ourselves up, and I thought we were the better side, but that's football. 

    "It baffles me sometimes how we have some people watching on a screen, and they can't get the decision right."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.