Conte lauds Osimhen amid Napoli exit talks

Napoli coach Antonio Conte has praised Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen for maintaining the correct attitude throughout pre-season training despite his impending departure from the club.

Osimhen has been the subject of transfer speculation before the end of the 2023/24 season, with the club placing a €130 million price tag on their talisman, who is claimed to want to move to the English Premier League.

While EPL clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been scared by the 25-year-old’s release clause, Napoli recently rejected a €200m twin offer for Osimhen and Georgia international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Although Conte said there are no major developments over a potential transfer for talisman Osimhen, he maintained that the club’s stance over his future is still unchanged as they prepare for the new season.

“We are talking about Victor as a professional, an excellent, top player,” Conte said via Football Italia.

“I spoke to him and he knows that absolutely nothing has changed. He belongs to Napoli and he knows that those who belong to Napoli have to work hard and have the right attitude, even if there is this sort of agreement, we still don’t know how it will end.

“He’s here with a smile, and what counts at the moment is the training this afternoon and the attitude with me and my colleagues.”

Napoli also would, of course, need to sell Osimhen first if they are to acquire some of their other attacking targets this summer, such as Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku.

Osimhen was signed from Lille in 2020 for a fee of around €75m and the Nigeria international has gone on to establish himself as one of the most exciting strikers in world football.

In the 2022/23 season, the current African Player of The Year scored 25 league goals to lead Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years and also emerged as the league’s highest goal scorer.

He has scored 76 goals plus 18 assists in 133 appearances across all competitions for Napoli.