June 26th 2024.
Napoli has reached an agreement to allow their star player, Victor Osimhen, to depart this summer. This comes after Antonio Conte, the new head coach, confirmed that the club will honor their deal to sell Osimhen. The talented Nigeria international has caught the attention of several top clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Last year, he even turned down an offer from the Saudi Pro League in hopes of securing a move to Europe.
Although Napoli has agreed to let Osimhen go, they are holding out for a team to meet his release clause of €130 million. However, this hefty price tag seems to be too much for interested clubs, causing Napoli to potentially lower their asking price in order to make a sale happen. Conte, who addressed the media for the first time as Napoli's coach on Wednesday, revealed that he has received assurances that key players such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Frank Anguissa, and Stanislav Lobotka will not be sold. However, he could not guarantee the same for Osimhen.
Speaking about the situation, Conte said, "As for Osimhen, just like I was fully aware of the situation with Kvaratskhelia, Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, and Lobotka - all of whom I have vetoed - I know what the situation is with Osimhen. There are agreements in place that make it different from the others. I can only observe from the sidelines. He is an exceptional player of the highest level, but I cannot interfere in any discussions as it is part of previous agreements that have been clearly communicated to me."
Conte also confirmed that Kvaratskhelia, who was heavily pursued by Paris Saint-Germain, will remain an integral part of his plans at Napoli. "He's staying," Conte said. "I have been very clear about this. The president has given him this wonderful news. Kvaratskhelia is a rare player with exceptional qualities. It is not just a whim to want to keep him. He is strong in one-on-one situations and is also a creative playmaker with the ability to score and provide important assists."
Continuing to praise Kvaratskhelia, Conte added, "If we constantly keep him on the pitch, he may lose some of his mental freedom. We have to accommodate his unique qualities and we will do so with him and the other players in the squad." With this news, Arsenal fans can rest assured that their club will not be able to snatch away one of Napoli's key players. Stay up to date on all the latest Arsenal news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for our newsletter. Your privacy is important to us and we are committed to safeguarding it. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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