Victor Osimhen’s future at Napoli remains uncertain as the club's director, Giovanni Manna, confirmed that the Nigerian striker's transfer is "blocked" unless Chelsea, Arsenal, or PSG make a decisive move before the August 31 deadline. Osimhen was notably absent from Napoli's 3-0 Serie A loss to Hellas Verona, a match in which other key players were also missing amid transfer speculation.
Coach Antonio Conte expressed frustration with the stalled transfer strategy, citing Osimhen's situation as the main reason for the club's current predicament. Manna acknowledged the complexity of the situation, emphasizing that Osimhen is an essential player under contract until 2027, but left the door open for potential developments in the coming days.
Italian media outlet *La Gazzetta dello Sport* criticized Napoli’s handling of Osimhen's transfer, questioning why the club sidelined their star forward despite the lack of concrete offers. The outlet also pointed out the complications surrounding a potential replacement, with Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku waiting for a green light that has yet to materialize.
