Victor Osimhen is reportedly taking decisive action to try and force through his exit from Napoli.
The 26-year-old’s future has once again become a hot topic this summer after the completion of a one-year loan spell in Turkey with Galatasaray. That move only happened after Chelsea and Saudi Arabian suitors took part in prolonged negotiations culminating in failure as they were unable to reach a permanent agreement with Napoli.
Now, Osimhen has officially returned to the hands of his Italian parent club ahead of the 2025/26 season and even if his time with Galatasaray last season was merely a last resort, it looks to have had a lasting impact.
Reports continue to suggest the Nigerian international is only thinking about a return to RAMS Park, where he scored 37 times last campaign.
Journalists Nicolo Schira and Yagiz Sabuncuoglu have reiterated this claim but have also both added new information as to the drastic steps Osimhen is personally taking to make sure a permanent move to Galatasaray goes through.
The striker has apparently informed Napoli that he will not report for pre-season training under Antonio Conte, has refused to undergo medical testing with the club and has refused to ever wear their badge again.
It is a situation that mirrors the current saga between Arsenal, Sporting CP and Viktor Gyokeres that has seen the Portuguese club threaten their own striker with disciplinary action. It remains to be seen how Napoli will react to their man’s alleged insubordination.
The Naples and Istanbul clubs seem to be locked in intense negotiations at this stage, stuck at the same step Chelsea were last summer – agreeing a fee.
The fee demanded is €75m (£67m) and whilst Galatasaray are willing to pay this, it comes down to the structure of the deal. Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis is claimed to have tried to insert a 20 percent sell-on clause that has further stalled matters.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are onlookers to a situation they once found themselves in, seeing reports that Osimhen has his mind set on Galatasaray.
But Enzo Maresca and his Blues have moved on since the time they tried to add Osimhen to their team.
Nicolas Jackson, already a part of things at Stamford Bridge, scored 13 and assisted six last season. Chelsea have since gone out and spent a combined £85m on Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to bolster their central attacking ranks looking ahead to the new season.
“It’s a good thing for me, and any manager, that they are all good,” Maresca commented on his headache of selecting one of the trio to start in recent FIFA Club World Cup fixtures.
Learn more
