Serie A: Osimhen’s agent counters claim of him wanting to leave Napoli
Roberto Calenda, Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen’s agent has countered claim of him refusing to sign a new contract with Napoli.
The 24-year-old Nigerian striker was the leading man in the Partenopei’s Scudetto charge last season, playing a crucial role in breaking their 33-year wait for a league title, scoring 26 goals in 32 games.
Osimhen has two years left on his contract at Napoli and the club are keen to tie him down to a new deal amid interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
Dismissing the claim of his client planning to leave Napoli before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window, Osimhen’s agent tweeted;
“I read in Il Mattino that ‘Calenda has no intention of renewing in the summer and that he wants to explore all avenues in the market first’. Fake news.”
Leggo sul Mattino che “Calenda non ha alcuna intenzione di rinnovare in estate e che prima vuole sondare tutte le strade del mercato”. Fake news.
— Roberto Calenda (@RobertoCalenda) July 17, 2023
Osimhen has been linked to clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in recent months. Napoli’s President Aurelio De Laurentiis has however reiterated that he is not interested in selling the 24-year-old this summer and suggested that it would take upwards of €150m to sign the striker.
To entice Osimhen to stay, Napoli has proposed to make him the highest-paid player in their ranks. The offer has not stopped other clubs from trying to prize him away from Naples.
Osimhen is currently holidaying in Lagos after helping the Super Eagles to a 3-2 defeat of Sierra Leone, a result which qualified Nigeria for next year’s African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
With the agent dismissing the contract rumours, the focus now shifts to negotiations between Napoli and Osimhen regarding a potential extension. The club is keen to secure his services for the long term, recognising his importance to the team’s success.
