Victor Osimhen is expected to leave Napoli for either the Premier League, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. Osimhen extended his Napoli contract until 2026 in November but is reportedly set to leave the Serie A side at the end of the season. “We already knew it since last summer,” De Laurentiis said.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that Victor Osimhen could move to the Premier League next season, while also ruling out a swoop for Jose Mourinho.
The Nigerian striker recently announced that he had decided his next move, which he refused to reveal, despite signing a new two-year contract with the Italian champions in November.
De Laurentiis said on Friday that the English top flight could be the 25-year-old’s next destination.
“We already knew it since last summer,” De Laurentiis said. “The negotiation for the renewal would not have been this long otherwise.
“We already knew he would go to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or the Premier League.”
Speaking earlier in the week, Osimhen said: “The rumour is going around about me linked with the Premier League. Of course, when you’re one of the hottest strikers in the world you expect this type of thing, it’s one of the biggest and best leagues in the world.
“For me, I’m with Napoli, signed a new contract and enjoying my time there with the team, at the end of the season I’ve already made up my mind, I already know what I want to do in my career.
“Since I’ve started, I’ve been the one making my own decisions on everything and it’s working out well for me. I already know the next step I want to take so for now I just want to finish the season strong.”
Osimhen scored 31 goals for Napoli last season which helped the club to their first Scudetto title since 1990.
Chelsea and Arsenal are two Premier League clubs reportedly interested in Osimhen’s signature, with both clubs expected to target a new talisman in the summer.
De Laurentiis also insisted Mourinho would not become Napoli’s manager in the future after the Portuguese manager was sacked by AS Roma earlier this month.
“Mourinho has nothing to do with Napoli,” De Laurentiis said.
“He is a great coach, very nice, impetuous, but I believe that his destiny will be outside from Italy. Certainly not in Naples.”
The Serie A side’s president also gave an update on Piotr Zielinski, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
“Certain love stories end on their own,” De Laurentiis said. “If he wants to stay we are here to embrace him.
