Napoli better without Osimhen – Conte

Antonio Conte has delivered a stern message to Victor Osimhen, confirming the Nigerian striker’s exile from Napoli’s first team after a potential transfer to Chelsea fell through during the summer window, Soccernet.ng reports.

Chelsea had aggressively pursued Osimhen, but negotiations with Napoli reached a deadlock, leaving the Premier League club empty-handed as the transfer deadline passed.

The main stumbling block appeared to be Chelsea’s reluctance to match Osimhen’s current salary or the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli.

Despite an offer from Chelsea, Osimhen rejected the proposal, reportedly ending talks and leaving Stamford Bridge officials frustrated.

With the transfer window closed, Osimhen remains a Napoli player, but Conte’s stance is unchanged — Osimhen is not in his plans moving forward.

This decision was evident when Osimhen was omitted from Napoli’s squad for their dramatic Serie A victory over Parma, a match in which new signing Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact by scoring.

Reflecting on Napoli’s transfer activity, Conte stated, “Strong players have arrived from a market that was difficult and at times blocked. They came to fill the slots, and I’m happy with the work done by the club.”

However, he also added a pointed remark directed at Osimhen: “Of course, if Osimhen had been sold, we would have completed the situation better.”

Conte’s comments suggest Osimhen’s future at Napoli is bleak, potentially pushing the forward to reconsider a move to Saudi Arabia, especially as Al Ahli recently secured a deal for England’s Ivan Toney.

Meanwhile, Conte praised his squad’s resilience after their dramatic comeback win, acknowledging the team’s need for further improvement.