Napoli’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Manna has shed light on the club’s controversial decision to exclude Victor Osimhen from Antonio Conte’s squad for the season.

Osimhen was expected to leave Napoli this summer, with strong links to Chelsea, but negotiations fell through as the transfer window closed without an agreement.

Despite Chelsea’s interest, the deal collapsed over a disparity in salary expectations, coupled with Napoli’s firm stance on their asking price, which the club refused to lower.

Osimhen, on the other hand, was unwilling to accept a pay cut.

The 25-year-old forward had made his intentions clear early on, opting not to train with Napoli’s senior team since the start of the month.

His absence was noted in all of Napoli’s pre-season games, as he seemingly prepared for a move away from the club.

However, with no deal materializing, Napoli’s new coach, Antonio Conte, swiftly moved on, integrating Romelu Lukaku on a permanent transfer from Chelsea into his plans as the club’s lead striker.

Subsequently, Napoli officially announced, just hours after the transfer window closed, that Osimhen had been removed from their squad list for the season.

This decision effectively sidelines the reigning African Player of the Year until January, when the transfer window reopens and he can explore new opportunities.

Addressing the situation in an interview with DAZN, Napoli’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Manna, explained the club’s stance:

SSC Napoli Team Manager Paolo Rea, CEO Andrea Chiavelli and Sporting Director Giovanni Manna. (Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images)

“We’ve made significant investments; we brought in Lukaku and kept Raspadori and Simeone, which wasn’t guaranteed. Right now, we are sticking to our consistent approach that we’ve had from the start.

“Victor has expressed his desire not to play for Napoli, and we have made other choices. The market is still open, there are many options, but I don’t think Victor will be going to Saudi Arabia in this transfer window,” Manni said in quotes revealed by Napoli Zone.

While Osimhen’s future at Napoli remains uncertain, fans of the Super Eagles can expect to see him in action soon.

The forward is set to return to the pitch for Nigeria in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda this September.