Italian champions, Napoli have decided to extend the holiday of their talisman Victor Osimhen who has been enjoying his off-season in his home country, Nigeria since the 2022-2023 season ended.
While the other Napoli players will start their pre-season training on Monday, July 10, at a summer training camp in Dimaro, Italy, the club has permitted Osimhen to continue to enjoy his break.
Osimhen’s exclusion from the pre-season is due to his recent national team actions with the Nigerian national team, in which he played for over one hour in the AFCON qualification match against Sierra Leone on June 18.
He scored two goals in the 3-2 victory that guaranteed the Super Eagles qualification for the competition which will be held in the Ivory Coast from January to February 2024.
Since his off-season has been extended, Victor Osimhen is expected to return to the club’s pre-season training camp on Friday, July 14.
Recall that Osimhen, 24, was crucial to Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years. During the 2022–23 season, he scored 26 goals in 32 games, making him the top scorer in Italy’s top division.
The performance of the Nigeria international has made PSG, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich show interest in him.
Reports in Italy claimed that Osimhen is PSG’s primary target if Kylian Mbappe leaves the French club this summer.
