Napoli Manager Antonio Conte has reaffirmed that Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen will not be reintegrated into the Napoli squad after the talisman failed to secure a move away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer.
The highly prized forward failed to seal a move to Chelsea or Al Ahli, the two clubs who were interested in his services at the tail end of the transfer window, despite the latter agreeing a deal with Napoli.
It now looks like Osimhen will be frozen out of the squad, and Conte has revealed that he has no plans of reintroducing the African Footballer of the year into his side.
“No, this is the team,” the Italian gaffer added when asked if he plans to reintroduce Osimhen and some of the other player, who have been told that they are surplus to requirement. “This is the group. We made decisions based on consistency and respect for the club.
The former Juventus and Inter Milan boss said that he was delighted with the club’s consistency in upholding rules and standards. However, he added that he was a bit sorry for the Nigerian forward, whose attempt to secure a move from did not materialise.
“Coherence is the starting point when it comes to respecting the rules. The club proved consistent, and I praise them for this attitude,” he said.
“I’m sorry about what happened. I’m sorry for [Victor] Osimhen, for the club that didn’t monetize, and for myself because we didn’t complete the team as we wanted,” Conte stated after Napoli’s dramatic 2-1 win over Parma. “But the club remained consistent in this situation.
Osimhen has not played any part in Napoli’s opening three games this season and it is left to see where the former Lille forward will end with the transfer window still open in some other leagues in Europe.
