Fact check: No, Victor Osimhen will not be demoted to Napoli’s youth team

Super Eagles attacker, Victor Osimhen, has reportedly been banished to Napoli’s youth team ahead of the 2025/26 season, Soccernet.ng reports. 

This report has sparked widespread concern and questions in the Nigerian football community.

The claims, widely circulated across social media and some blogs, painted a picture of tension between the Super Eagles striker and Napoli head coach Antonio Conte.

Osimhen Set to Return to Napoli but Reportedly Banished from the First Team to Join Youth Team.

Victor Osimhen has been instructed to report to Napoli for pre-season training following the conclusion of his loan at Galatasaray, where he enjoyed a stellar campaign, scoring 37… pic.twitter.com/6GMWUdZVg4

— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) July 1, 2025

What Happened To Osimhen?

Reports emerged earlier this week suggesting that Victor Osimhen, fresh off a remarkable loan spell at Galatasaray, would be excluded from Napoli’s first-team plans for the upcoming season.

Some outlets claimed that the Nigerian striker had been banished to train with the youth team, as new manager Antonio Conte allegedly no longer considered him part of his squad.

This came amid ongoing uncertainty about Osimhen’s future, with only Al Hilal reportedly activating his €75 million release clause — a move the striker is said to have declined.

Osimhen to Napoli's Youth Team: What Has Been Said?

However, in an exclusive fact-check conversation with Soccernet.ng, Vincenzo Credendino, a respected journalist based in Naples, debunked the reports linking Osimhen to a youth team demotion.

“He will never join the youth team — never,” Credendino clarified.
“Let’s see if he has to train at the beginning of the season, but I don’t think he will train with the youth team.”

This casts serious doubt on the credibility of earlier reports and confirms that no such decision has been made by Napoli at this time.

Osimhen is still expected to report for pre-season medicals between July 14 and 15, with Napoli heading to Dimaro for training from July 17 to 27, and then to Castel di Sangro from July 30 to August 14.

Will Osimhen Leave Napoli?

Osimhen’s long-term future at Napoli remains uncertain. Despite an extraordinary season in Turkey where he bagged 37 goals and six assists for Galatasaray, no major European club has officially met his release clause — and his rejection of Al Hilal’s offer has left the door open for further negotiations.

While Napoli are open to selling the 26-year-old, any transfer will depend on whether a club can match the asking price and meet Osimhen’s personal terms.

Until then, the striker remains under contract and, according to sources close to the club, will not be demoted or excluded from first-team activities without formal communication.