Napoli president, Aurelien De Laurentiis, is keen on blocking Juventus‘ interest in Victor Osimhen, insisting the on-loan striker will not join the Old Lady in the summer transfer window. Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray, is set to bid farewell to Napoli in the summer after he fell out with the club’s hierarchy last season.
Since moving to the Turkish Super Lig side, the 26-year-old has scored 29 goals and provided six assists in all competitions for Okan Buruk’s side this season, sparking interest from top European clubs. Premier League clubs Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal are reportedly in pursuit of the striker, and Juventus has also registered interest in Osimhen.
However, De Laurentiis has no intention of letting his prized asset join the record Serie A champions. “No! Never at Juventus,” De Laurentiis said on Radio Kiss Kiss via Calciomercato. Napoli are willing to lower Osimhen’s €75m valuation to enable Manchester United to seal a deal for the Nigerian striker and prevent him from joining Italian rivals Juventus in the summer.
Galatasaray, where Osimhen is currently on loan, are also reported to be ready to make sacrifices to keep the 26-year-old. However, they will struggle to convince him of such a move. Osimhen has been coy about his next destination, saying: “There are always rumours about me, but I live in the moment. I’m enjoying all this now. The fans supported me in an incredible way. Not only me but also my companions and my family. The best decision will be made for everyone, but Galatasaray will forever remain in my heart.”
The player’s future remains uncertain, with several top clubs vying for his signature. De Laurentiis’ determination to block Osimhen’s move to Juventus adds another layer of complexity to the situation, and it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the summer transfer window.