Garcia – Osimhen wants Napoli stay
Garcia – Osimhen wants Napoli stay
Napoli’s head coach, Rudi Garcia, has expressed his confidence that Victor Osimhen is keen on continuing his journey with the Italian club, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Despite the ongoing negotiations for a new contract, Garcia remains optimistic about the Nigerian striker’s future at the Stadio Maradona.
In a recent interview with Il Corriere dello Sport, Garcia spoke highly of his impressions of the team, emphasizing that their primary objective is to retain all their key players. Regarding Osimhen, who is currently under contract until June 2025, Garcia assured fans that the striker is composed and content at Napoli.
“I’ve had positive feelings. The group has impressed me, and it’s pleasing. The first target is to keep all our players. Osimhen has a contract, and he’s calm,” Garcia stated.
The Napoli coach further disclosed his hope that Osimhen will remain with the club, highlighting the striker’s stature as one of the finest in his position.
“He is one of the best strikers out there, and we are happy he’s playing with us. I’ve spoken to all players, including Victor. They are all working hard and focusing on training before the start of the season, which is close,” Garcia added.
However, despite Garcia’s optimism, the negotiations for Osimhen’s new salary and a potential release clause have reportedly hit stumbling blocks. The player’s agent, Roberto Calenda, and Napoli’s President, Aurelio De Laurentiis, are yet to reach an agreement. De Laurentiis has set a lofty asking price of €200m for Osimhen should any club seek to acquire him this summer.
Furthermore, Napoli faces the challenge of finding a replacement for Kim Min-jae, who recently secured a move to Bayern Munich for a substantial fee of over €50m. Garcia acknowledged the need for a defender but acknowledged the complexities of the market.
“For sure, we need a defender. It’s not an easy matter, but it’s rare to have easy things in the market. If nobody arrives shortly, I already have three centre-backs and am only using two. We work all together on the market; we are a team,” the French coach commented.
As the negotiations continue, the Napoli faithful anxiously await the outcome, hoping that Osimhen’s commitment to the club and the positive relationship with Coach Garcia will lead to a fruitful resolution for all parties involved.