Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been a prominent figure in the transfer rumour mill, with continuous links to Real Madrid. Despite his impressive performances for Napoli, including aiding the team in securing a Scudetto win, Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, recently disclosed the reasons behind the club’s decision not to pursue Osimhen.
Following Karim Benzema’s departure for Saudi Arabia last summer, Osimhen was considered a potential successor. However, Ancelotti revealed that Real Madrid opted not to sign Osimhen, as they believed that acquiring Jude Bellingham would effectively address the vacancy left by Benzema. This decision proved to be successful, with Bellingham playing a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s victories in La Liga and the Champions League last season.
Meanwhile, Osimhen continues to train diligently with Napoli during the pre-season. Despite this, uncertainty looms over the future of the Nigerian international.
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Although there have been reports suggesting that Osimhen is unlikely to remain at the Stadio Maradona beyond this summer, no firm offers have materialized. Even though there have been links to clubs such as Chelsea and PSG, Napoli has not received any concrete proposals for their star striker.
Potential suitors may have been deterred by Osimhen’s substantial €130 million release clause. La Repubblica highlighted Osimhen’s commitment, reporting that he was among the first players to return for Napoli’s pre-season training on Tuesday. This dedication coincides with news that Napoli coach Antonio Conte is actively seeking replacements, with Romelu Lukaku emerging as the frontrunner to potentially fill the void left by Osimhen’s departure.
It remains to be seen whether Osimhen will secure a move away from Napoli. While Real Madrid’s decision to prioritize Bellingham reaped dividends, it raises the question of whether this could potentially be a lost opportunity for the remarkably talented Nigerian striker.
