Ex-Napoli coach slams club president over Osimhen contract drama

Former Napoli coach Rudi Garcia has criticized club president Aurelio De Laurentiis over the handling of Victor Osimhen’s contract.

Garcia accused him of mismanagement that strained the striker’s relationship with the club.

Osimhen, a key figure in Napoli’s historic Serie A title win last season, became embroiled in a contentious contract saga last summer.

Despite Chelsea and Al-Ahli making significant bids for the Nigerian striker, De Laurentiis refused to budge on his €130 million valuation.

 

Ultimately, Osimhen extended his contract by one year, pushing its expiration to 2026.

Garcia, who managed Napoli before being dismissed, has now spoken out about the situation.

In an interview cited by Haber Sari Kirmizi, he said, “Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis doesn’t understand football.

“Contracts for players like Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski should have been renewed long before last summer.”

Garcia further accused De Laurentiis of excessive interference.

“He meddled in everything from tactics to player preferences, and I was made to pay the price for telling him to stay in his lane,” the 60-year-old said.

He also claimed that the club’s mismanagement led to dissatisfaction among players and staff, resulting in instability.

Despite his contract extension, Osimhen is widely expected to leave Napoli, though a January transfer appears unlikely.