Giovanni Manna, Napoli sporting director, has ruled out Victor Osimhen joining a Saudi Pro League club this summer.
The summer transfer window in that region closes on September 2.
Osimhen has been excluded from Napoli’s Serie A squad list for the 2024-25 season, after proposed moves to Al-Ahli and Chelsea fell through on Friday.
After failing to reach an agreement with Napoli for the signing of the Super Eagles striker, Al-Ahli activated their Plan B by completing a deal for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
The Napoli marksman had given the green light to a transfer to Al-Ahli, in a deal that would have made him the highest paid Nigerian player in history.
Osimhen’s transfer to Chelsea collapsed in the final hours of ‘Deadline Day’ because the reigning African Footballer of the Year was asking for a wage package worth over £300,000-a-week, according to Sky Sports.
He had been destined to leave the Diego Maradona Stadium this summer despite signing a contract extension last December with a release clause of 130 million euros.
Sky Sport Italia quoted Manna as saying: “Osimhen? The situation has been extremely clear since the end of last year and the start of pre-season.
“Victor had expressed his desire not to stay in Naples: the market was complicated, we thought we had closed a deal but it didn’t end well.
“We have made important investments: we took Lukaku, Raspadori and Simeone remained. We are maintaining our consistent line, Osimhen has made other choices”.
“The market is still open, but I don’t think Victor will go to Saudi in this transfer window.”
The 25-year-old is still contracted to Napoli until the summer of 2026 and is on a deal worth €10m per year in wages.
