Nigeria – Osimhen’s Future In Turmoil: Napoli Rift Deepens After Chelsea, Al Ahli Moves Collapse

By Onoja Baba, Abuja, Nigeria

The Nigerian star striker, Victor Osimhen, faces an uncertain future as his relationship with Napoli deteriorates further following failed transfer negotiations with Chelsea and Al Ahli.

As the summer transfer window closed, Osimhen’s much-anticipated either moves to the Premier League, or the Saudi Pro League collapsed, leaving the 25-year-old in limbo at a club where tensions have reached a breaking point.

The prospect of Osimhen joining Chelsea had dominated headlines throughout the summer, with the London club eager to strengthen their attacking options.

However, despite extended negotiations, the deal fell apart just two hours before the transfer window closed. Disagreements over financial terms and the structure of a potential loan-to-buy deal ultimately proved to be the stumbling blocks, ending Chelsea’s hopes of securing the Nigerian forward.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli, a prominent Saudi club that had been pursuing Osimhen, pivoted to Brentford’s Ivan Toney on deadline day. The Saudi side completed a £40 million deal for Toney, who had already undergone his medical in London, after Napoli’s last-minute demand for an increased fee made the Osimhen transfer more complicated.

The Saudi club, backed by substantial financial resources, had made it clear they would sign either Osimhen or Toney, not both. Faced with escalating demands from Napoli, they chose the less complicated option, leaving Osimhen stuck in Naples.

This dramatic turn of events has deepened the rift between Osimhen and Napoli. Despite the club agreeing on a fee in the region of £67 million with Al Ahli earlier, the deal collapsed when Napoli asked for more money. The Saudi transfer window remains open for another three days, but unless a new bid comes in, Osimhen is likely to remain at Napoli.

Fabrizio Romano, a renowned transfer expert, suggested that the striker could face being frozen out of the first-team squad if no transfer is finalized, stating that the relationship between Osimhen and Napoli is “completely broken.”

Tensions between Osimhen and Napoli have been simmering for months, with their roots in an incident in September 2023 when Napoli posted a TikTok video that appeared to mock the player after a missed penalty. Although the video was quickly deleted and Napoli insisted no offense was intended, the damage was done. Osimhen, who was crucial in ending Napoli’s 33-year wait for a Serie A title in the 2022-23 season and was crowned the league’s top scorer with 26 goals, felt humiliated.

He responded by removing all Napoli-related content from his social media accounts, an action that underscored the depth of his displeasure.

Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, had threatened legal action over the video, which only added to the tension. While a new contract was eventually signed extending Osimhen’s stay until 2026, it did little to repair the strained relationship.

His agent publicly criticized Napoli’s handling of the situation, further complicating matters and creating an environment fraught with distrust.

Compounding the tension was a public spat involving Mamuka Jugeli, the agent for Napoli’s Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Jugeli had suggested that Osimhen would leave for Saudi Arabia at the end of the 2023/24 season, a claim that provoked a heated response from Osimhen, who openly rebuked Jugeli in a strongly worded statement.

Calenda, Osimhen’s agent, condemned Jugeli’s remarks as “bad, superficial, and unacceptable,” accusing him of creating unnecessary problems between Osimhen and Napoli fans.

The situation has worsened over the past few weeks, with insiders suggesting the final straw came when Calenda criticized Napoli’s approach to transfer negotiations.

The fallout has significantly damaged the trust between Osimhen and the club, making any reconciliation appear increasingly unlikely.

With Chelsea’s pursuit over, and Al Ahli no longer an option, Osimhen’s future remains uncertain. Paris Saint-Germain, once a potential suitor, has stayed out of the race, and there are no signs of new bids on the horizon.

Napoli’s refusal to lower their asking price has effectively blocked any immediate transfer, leaving the club with a disgruntled player and limited options.

As the football world watches closely, the focus now shifts to how Napoli will handle this escalating crisis. The club has already signed Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, potentially signaling a willingness to move on from Osimhen.

Whether Napoli will attempt to mend the relationship or sideline the Nigerian international remains to be seen.

For now, Osimhen’s future at Napoli hangs in the balance, with the clock ticking down on what could be one of the most tumultuous chapters in his career.