Director Giovanni Manna reveals Victor Osimhen ‘was very clear he does not want to play for Napoli, so we made other choices’ and doubts he will go to Saudi Arabia either.
The showdown with Parma kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
The deadline day drama around the Nigeria international dominated the news cycle yesterday, as moves to first Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli and then Chelsea seemed to collapse.
Napoli warn Osimhen excluded himself
Speaking to DAZN before kick-off, director of sport Manna did not hold back on the problems in this situation.
“The situation is very clear, it has been since the end of last season. Victor expressed his absolute desire to not stay at Napoli, to not play for Napoli, and we tried to make him happy.
“Then there is a demand and an offer, we thought that we had concluded the negotiations, but then it did not go through. We bought Lukaku, kept Raspadori and Simeone, which was not to be taken for granted.
“At this moment, we maintain the same consistency we had since the start: he expressed the desire to no longer play for Napoli and so we made other choices.”
Is there still a possibility that Osimhen can be sold, for example to a different Saudi Pro League club?
“The transfer market is still open, there are many options, but I don’t think Victor will go to Saudi Arabia in this transfer session,” replied Manna.
Osimhen’s situation is also a huge financial weight on the club, as his sale was meant to raise funds for new transfers.
“Our ideas were clear from the start. We were waiting to sell Victor to finance these operations, but the sale did not arrive and the President took on the responsibility to invest and reboot. He took on all the risk, he was incredible.”