Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has found himself sidelined as the Serie A club has handed his iconic number 9 jersey to their new signing, Romelu Lukaku.
This development follows a summer of intense transfer speculation and a reported fallout with the club’s hierarchy, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Nigerian striker, who played a pivotal role in securing Napoli’s first Scudetto in four decades, was at the centre of a tug-of-war between several top clubs.
However, despite last-minute bids from Saudi giants Al-Hilal and English side Chelsea, Osimhen remains with the Partenopei, a situation that has left many fans and pundits puzzled.
New Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who has a history with Lukaku from their successful stint at Inter Milan, appears to have no place for Osimhen in his plans.
Conte’s preference for the Belgian striker is seen as a key reason behind the decision to strip Osimhen of his number 9 shirt.
Napoli had reportedly reached an agreement with Saudi club Al Ahli for a fee of around £67 million, but negotiations hit a snag when the Italian club demanded a higher fee.
This prompted Al Ahli to shift their focus to Brentford’s Ivan Toney, ultimately securing the English forward for a £40 million move.
Toney, who had already undergone a medical in London on Deadline Day, became the more straightforward option for the Saudi side.
The failed transfer saga has left Osimhen in a precarious position, with reports suggesting he could be sidelined until January when the transfer window reopens.
This situation is in contrast to his recent successes, including being named African Footballer of the Year and finishing 8th in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
After a successful 2023 season, tensions between the striker and Napoli had already been simmering, especially after the club’s official TikTok account released a controversial video that many interpreted as disrespectful.
Despite the public fallout, the former Wolfsburg striker extended his contract with Napoli until 2026.