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Osimhen won’t leave – Napoli president

Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has reiterated the club’s desire to ensure that Victor Osimhen stays till his contract expires in 2025.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in Osimhen this summer. The quartet, however, failed to table a formal offer for the Nigeria international.

Saudi Arabia Professional League club, Al Hilal recently had two lucrative offers rejected for the striker by Napoli. The Blue Waves are reportedly ready to make a third bid for Osimhen.

De Laurentiis, however, stated that the Partenopei will not sell their talismanic forward.

He told Sky; “Osimhen will stay here. He won’t leave. He’s under contract until June 2025, where should he go? Contracts should be respected. We have been on the same page with Osimhen since day one. Don’t be worried.”

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CorrectNG reported earlier that Aurelio De Laurentiis turned down a €130m offer that Al Hilal submitted for Osimhen. The Blue Waves recently showed interest in Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe but they met a cold response from the Frenchman.

The Saudi side, backed by sovereign wealth fund PIF, approached Napoli with a substantial offer in an attempt to secure the services of the Nigerian forward.

According to Il Mattino via TMW, Al-Hilal presented their bid to De Laurentiis, putting forth the sum of €130m for the Nigerian international. However, Napoli swiftly declined the proposal, indicating their unwillingness to part ways with the talented striker during this summer transfer window.

Napoli is said to have chosen to focus on securing Osimhen’s future at the club by negotiating a new long-term contract. They value the player at approximately €200m.

Osimhen, who played a crucial role in Napoli’s triumphant Scudetto-winning campaign last season, has garnered significant interest from various quarters. The Italian club clinched the Serie A title for the first time in over three decades, with Osimhen’s stellar performances in the forefront.

The 26-year-old forward made his mark in the Serie A last season, finishing as the league’s top scorer with an impressive 26 goals in just 32 appearances. His remarkable achievement earned him the prestigious Golden Boot award, making him the first African player to claim this accolade in the league’s history.