Napoli have officially removed star striker Victor Osimhen from their Serie A squad list for the 2024-25 season.
The club has also handed Osimhen’s iconic No. 9 shirt to their latest signing, Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku.
The decision comes on the heels of a chaotic transfer deadline day, during which Osimhen was linked with moves to Chelsea in the Premier League and Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.
However, negotiations fell through, leaving the Nigerian international without a new club. Despite being left out of the squad, Osimhen remains under contract with Napoli until the summer of 2026, with his deal reportedly worth around €10 million per season.
In addition to Osimhen’s removal, Napoli also excluded defender Mario Rui from their squad list to accommodate their new signings.
However, Nigerian-Italian midfielder Michael Folorunsho has retained his place in the team, providing a glimmer of continuity amid the squad changes.
Napoli fans will have their first look at the restructured team on Saturday evening, August 31, when they host Parma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
All eyes will be on Lukaku, who is expected to make his debut in the iconic No. 9 shirt.
The exclusion of Osimhen, a key figure in Napoli’s recent success, has raised questions about his future with the club.
The striker’s 2022-23 season was marked by his crucial contributions to Napoli’s first Serie A title in over three decades, making the current situation all the more unexpected.
Whether this marks the beginning of the end for Osimhen’s time in Naples or a temporary measure remains to be seen.
As Napoli embark on their new campaign, the club’s management will hope that Lukaku can fill the void left by Osimhen and lead the team to further success in the 2024-25 season.
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