Desire for UEFA Champions League Football driving Napoli star’s summer move decision

Victor Osimhen’s Napoli future could remain unresolved until the final week of the transfer window (Image: Football.London/Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

By Ed Emeanua

Victor Osimhen wants a move away from Naples because Partenopei will miss out on UEFA Champions League and European club football action altogether this season.

The Nigerian’s decision has forced Napoli to consider other striking options and rule out the forward’s participation in their 2024-2025 football plans. Napoli manager Antonio Conte has decided against Osimhen’s inclusion in his Napoli goals.

The Napoli boss has said he prefers Chelsea reject and Belgium international Romelu Lukaku to lead his attack line.

The slow progress in Osimhen’s ambition to transcend to Pasture New this summer is also because of the player’s oversized prioritization of playing UEFA Champions League football.

Before the opening of the Summer transfer season, Chelsea was primed to sign the Nigerian superstar but found the Napoli striker’s rebuff of their initial approaches rather perplexing.

The Blues under new boss Enzo Maresca were ultimately forced to cool off their interest in the Nigerian forward after Team Osimhen telegraphed the impetus of UEFA Champions League football in the player’s relocation ambition.

Erik ten-Hag’s Manchester United was also forced to scratch out the Nigerian’s name from their shopping list for the same reason.

The player’s interest was initially a move to either Parc Des Princes with Paris Saint Germain (PSG) or Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium with who both sides already assured of UEFA Champions League football slots.

However, in’ desperation to keep Osimhen at the Diego Armando Stadium at the end of the 2022-2023 season, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis had extended the Nigerian’s stay in Naples till 2026.

Image credit: Football Italia

To keep the paws of prospective buyers at bay, De Laurentiis also penned a hefty $143 million release clause into the player’s refurbished deal.

However, though ‘Les Parisiens’ and ‘The Gunners’ were receptive to the Nigerian’s interest in joining their ranks, Arsenal and PSG  felt that De Laurentiis’ valuation of his star striker was too steep.

The high interest in featuring in the glamorous UEFA Champions League is applicable to all players in World-wide.

The UEFA Champions League is arguably the ultimate grand-slam of club football and guarantees its participants the huge venue to showcase their talents. It is also the easiest forum for exceptional players to convince selectors of their Ballon d’Or pedigree.

Osimhen is a world class striker in every right and at age twenty-five, it is pertinent for the Napoli striker to break the mold.

According to Football Italia, Napoli boss Antonio Conte has admitted a ‘difficulty’ in bringing in new talents to Napoli this Summer because of the club’s lack of European football opportunity for the upcoming season.

“I knew the situation when I came, and in the market you have limits on the cost of the player’s salary,” Conte told SportMediaset, via Gianluca Di Marzio.

“Most of the time, players don’t come here because we don’t play in the (European) cups.

“I want the best for Napoli and to try and strengthen the squad, because we need it. I don’t know what will happen down the line. Today (referring to Napoli’s a 0-0 draw against Serie B side Modena in the Coppa Italia on Saturday evening, but progressed after a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout) was a dose of reality.”