Osimhen missing from Napoli’s Serie A squad, loses jersey number to Lukaku

Victor Osimhen has been excluded from Napoli’s squad list for the 2024/25 Serie A season. 

The 25-year-old was missing from the official list of the team’s squad submitted to the league’s website.

Checks also revealed that Osimhen’s jersey number nine has been handed to Romelu Lukaku, who recently joined Napoli from Chelsea.

Napoli’s decision to ostracise the Super Eagles striker follows a failed move away from the club during the just-concluded transfer window.

Osimhen’s relationship with the club’s leadership broke down irreparably in recent months when he handed in a transfer request.

However, the striker’s protracted negotiation with Chelsea and Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia failed at the final stage.

Osimhen is still contracted to Napoli until the summer of 2026 and is on a deal worth €10m per year in wages.

Antonio Conte, Napoli’s new manager, consistently said the striker will not be part of his plan for the season.

Osimhen has been missing from the team’s matchday squad list this season.

The club’s next league match will be against Parma at the Stadio Diego Maradona on Saturday.

HOW OSIMHEN’S MOVE TO CHELSEA OR AL AHLI WAS BOTCHED

Chelsea have been a long-term admirer of Osimhen and the London club looked keen to sign the striker this summer.

However, both parties failed to see the move through due to disagreement over Osimhen’s wage demand.

The Blues reportedly offered the striker a €4m initial annual salary, a fraction of what he earns at Napoli.

Al Ahli were also interested in getting Osimhen into the Saudi Pro League.

Napoli had initially accepted a £67.3 million (€80m) offer from the Arabian club for the striker, who would have earned £33.6 million (€40m) a season.

But the Italian club reportedly demanded another €5 million added to the deal, prompting Al Ahli to look elsewhere and sign Ivan Tooney from Brentford.