Napoli manager Antonio Conte has apologised to striker Victor Osimhen over the treatment meted to the player by the club during the summer transfer window.

Conte froze the striker out of the Napoli squad, forcing him to seek top football elsewhere as he joins Turkish club Galatasaray on loan.

The tactician admitted that a lot happened during the transfer window, which was impacted by unresolved issues between Osimhen and the club.

He believes the striker’s transfer should have been sealed earlier as offers from several clubs eventually collapsed.

The Nigerian footballer has since moved on as he will now play in the Turkish Pro League, but Conte seems disappointed.

The manager has since apologised to the forward but emphasised that the club has to maintain its rules, as per The Cult Calcio

•  Unresolved issues:

The Italian manager believes certain issues hindered the striker’s transfer process. He said:

“Some issues blocked it; perhaps if we had unlocked that [Osimhen] situation, we would have completed the team differently and earlier.”

•  Osimhen’s Impact:

Conte attested to Osimhen’s talent, suggesting that such a player should not have issues moving to another club

“Perhaps if we had unlocked that [Osimhen] situation, we would have completed the team differently and earlier.”

•  Regret for Missed Opportunities:

The former Chelsea manager expressed regret that the unresolved circumstances prevented the club from monetizing effectively.

“I’m sorry for the club that didn’t monetize.”

•  Personal Disappointment:

After freezing Osimhen out of the squad, the manager seems disappointed in such action.

“I am sorry for myself because we didn’t complete the team as we wanted.”

• Club’s Consistency:

Despite the challenges, Conte hailed the club’s processes.

“The club proved to be consistent in this situation.”

•  Team’s Coherence:

Conte stated that maintaining coherence and respecting the rules was essential as he applauded the club’s decision.

“Coherence is the starting point when it comes to respecting the rules. The club proved consistent, so I praise them for this attitude.”

– Tuko.co.ke

Victor Osimhen has signed for Galatasaray on loan from Serie A side Napoli, the two clubs announced on Wednesday.

Galatasaray will pay six million euros ($6.65 million) net to the 25-year-old Nigeria international for the 2024-2025 season, the club said in a statement, with Napoli adding that the agreement lasts until the end of June.

Osimhen signed a contract extension with the Italian club last December through to 2026 with a reported release clause of 130 million euros.

Napoli have also reached an agreement with Osimhen which means they retain an option to extend his contract until 2027, the Serie A club said in a statement.

He was a target for a number of clubs in the recent transfer window, according to media reports, with Saudi side Al-Ahli and Premier League club Chelsea linked with a move for the Nigerian.

The striker was not included in Napoli’s 23-man Serie A squad for the current campaign, with the club signing Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku seemingly as a replacement.

Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku has paid respect to Victor Osimhen as he declined the number 9 shirt that the Nigerian was wearing while still in Napoli.

When he was signed on by Napoli as a direct replacement for Osimhen,  Lukaku rejected the opportunity to take Victor Osimhen’s no.9 shirt after joining Napoli, despite the club having told him that he was free to do so. 

Osimhen was removed from Napoli’s Serie A squad at the start of the weekend after a move away from the club collapsed in spectacular fashion on deadline day. 

A short-lived update on the Serie A website had Lukaku down as Napoli’s new number nine, but he then turned out against Parma wearing the no.11 instead. 

Reports from Il Mattino and Tuttonapoli on Monday claim that Lukaku refused Napoli’s offer of taking the no.9 shirt as a show of respect for Osimhen. The feeling was that even though he is not part of the Serie A squad, the no.9 jersey still belongs to the Nigeria international. 

Lukaku got off to a flying start in his Partenopei career, coming off the bench to score a 92nd minute equaliser against Parma, which gave Napoli a boost ahead of Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa’s 96th minute winner.