Nigeria international striker, Victor Osimhen has reportedly arrived at Napoli’s Dimaro Hotel camp with his agent, Roberto Calenda who is expected to continue talks for the striker’s contract extension.
The 24-year-old Osimhen generated so much buzz last season following his stellar performances as his 26 goals in 32 Serie A matches significantly helped Napoli to clinch the title for the first time in 33 years.
As a result, the Super Eagles striker has commanded huge interest in the summer transfer market after being linked to many top European clubs including Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and PSG.
Osimhen’s contract at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025 and Napoli won’t sell him for less than €180-200m this summer even as Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis expressed confidence that the Nigerian will remain with the Pan in the upcoming season.
On Monday, Calenda dismissed speculations that Osimhen was unwilling to sign a new contract with Napoli and the arrival of both the striker and his agent at Dimaro may have put paid to such speculations with claims by many Italian news outlets that talks over a contract extension is well on course.
Also on Tuesday, Napoli coach Rudi Garcia was quoted as saying that he expects Osimhen to remain at Napoli.
“He is under contract, tomorrow [today, Tuesday] he will arrive with the others,” Garcia reportedly said as per Football Italia. “When I spoke to Aurelio De Laurentiis, I saw we had the same ambition.
“He did great things last season and he doesn’t want to stop. We’ll have a quality team. I like logic, if a team plays well, there are more chances to win and that’s what we want to do,” he added.
Incidentally, Osimhen’s mentor and former Golden Eaglets coach , Emmanuel Amuneke, is also of the view that he would enjoy buoyancy if he remains with Napoli since he has the chance to replicate what he did last season.
“He (Osimhen) has to look at all the options that will guarantee him the chance to replicate what he did last season (with Napoli),” Amuneke said in an earlier report. “He has to choose the option that will give him the continuity to grow as a player and establish himself as he did in the previous season.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
