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Antonio Conte and Napoli were criticised for their handling of Victor Osimhen's transfer wish following a shaky start to the season.
Napoli are off the mark after a difficult start to life under new manager Antonio Conte who decided to start his reign without unsettled Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Conte’s poor start to life saw him struggle in the cup before Hellas Verona put the dethroned champions to the sword in their first game of the season in the Serie A.
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05:44 - 26.08.2024
Naija Stars Abroad: Osimhen remains banished, Lookman missing, Dessers on fire as Iwobi 'hams' Ndidi
It was a quiet weekend for Naija Stars Abroad with a few standout performers led by Victor Osimhen, Cyriel Dessers and Alex Iwobi.
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Nigeria’s Osimhen missed those encounters and the club’s pre-season matches as Conte seemingly looked to plan without the icon whose desire is to leave Naples after a successful time at the club.
That decision to sideline the Nigerian striker and Napoli’s main man came with some criticisms after the Partenope failed to score a single goal in their first competitive match under Conte as they struggled to see off Modena in the Coppa Italia first round without top forward Osimhen.
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Several Italian outlets led by La Gazzetta dello criticised the club’s approach ahead of their Serie A opener against Hellas Verona without the 25-year-old.
“They have to honour their promise to sell, but without an offer and an actual negotiation, why haven’t the club used a champion who, moreover, has been abundantly paid?" La Gazzetta quizzed.
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Conte’s decision to trust Giacomo Raspadori or Giovanni Simeone failed to deliver the goods as the concerns raised heading into the game proved to be true as the former champions were thrashed 3-0 in the opener.
READ ALSO: Melted like snow - Conte angered by Napoli's capitulation at Verona
Conte moves on with Osimhen
However, on the occasion of his home debut at the impressive Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the former Inter Milan and Juventus boss seems to have won the battle.
Conte watched on as Napoli initially struggled before turning on the style to put behind them the ghost of that shameful performance against Hellas the previous weekend.
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Goals coming from Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giovanni Simeone handed the Italian his first competitive win as Napoli manager, showing that his team can still come up with the goods without club icon Osimhen.
In a related development, despite talks of a move to Chelsea being done, Osimhen could be on his way to Saudi Arabia to join Cristiano Ronaldo.
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According to a Pulse Sports report, the Nigerian star is set for a move to Ah Ahli as Napoli close in on a remarkable deal with the Saudi Pro League side.
The Partenope are looking to cash in on Osimhen whose contract expires next summer and have already agreed to a deal with Chelsea to reunite Conte and his former striker Lukaku.
READ ALSO: Osimhen's Napoli agree ₦52 Billion deal to sign 10-goal star from Manchester United
With a few days left in the transfer market, it will be intriguing to see if Super Eagles striker Osimhen will finally get his wish to leave Naples this summer or he will be forced to stay back and see out his contract, with the chance of playing as second choice to Lukaku.
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