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Napoli release statement clarifying Victor Osimhen contract situation after president Aurelio De Laurentiis hinted striker would not sign new deal.
The statements made by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis about Victor Osimhen’s future have been clarified in a statement from Napoli.
In a news conference, De Laurentiis made the assertion that Osimhen’s “mood has changed” about his future at the club and that negotiations over a new contract have come to a stop.
After the club’s TikTok account aired videos that looked to insult the Nigerian international, Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli appeared to be on the rocks this season. Tensions reached a breaking point when the striker’s agent took legal action and ordered the removal of any references to Napoli from his Instagram account.
Napoli, however, insist that more discussions are anticipated and that the 24-year-old is only taking some time to think about his options.
“SSC Napoli would like to clarify recent comments made by president Aurelio De Laurentiis regarding Victor Osimhen, given that his words have been distorted by certain media publications,” a statement read.
“President De Laurentiis did not say anything negative about Victor. He simply stated that after a series of lengthy contract negotiations which ended with the parties shaking hands and agreeing to continue together, Victor had second thoughts. President De Laurentiis hopes this is merely a pause for reflection.
Over the coming weeks, when Victor will not be able to play as he recovers from injury, the president, Osimhen and his agent Roberto Calenda will sit down calmly to discuss the future. Describing relations between Osimhen and Napoli as frosty is entirely out of place.”
Osimhen, whose current contract is valid until 2025, will be absent from the team’s Serie A encounter against Hellas Verona on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.