Napoli director of sport Mauro Meluso gives updates on Piotr Zielinski’s contract talks and why Victor Osimhen is not in Italy ahead of today’s match with Salernitana.
It kicks off at the Stadio Arechi at 14.00 GMT.
“All games are important, we must try to get back into the top spots and seek to repeat our last exceptional campaign,” Meluso told DAZN.
The director of sport was also asked about the reports that Zielinski has rejected the offer to extend his contract at a 30 per cent pay cut, as his current deal only runs to the end of the season, alerting Inter, Lazio and Juventus to a potential free agent swoop in the summer.
“Zielinski has said many times he wants to remain at Napoli. We are working to make that happen and I am confident.”
Not only is Osimhen out injured, but he has also been absent from the Napoli training ground over the last few days, with reports he is back home to deal with an ugly legal battle involving his sister and brother-in-law.
“Due to personal reasons, Osimhen has been given permission by the club to return to Nigeria. He will return when he has resolved those issues, while he is also working on regaining full fitness with exercises there. He will return as soon as possible,” explained Meluso.
Osimhen’s brother-in-law has claimed on social media that the striker got his wife – and the player’s sister – arrested as part of his attempts to recoup money owed in commission from the transfer from Lille to Napoli.