Victor Osimhen, a Nigerian attacker, is due to arrive to his Serie A side Napoli on Wednesday (today), having completed his international service at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The 25-year-old and the Super Eagles battled their way to the competition’s final, where they were defeated 2-1 by the hosts at Abidjan’s Alassane Outtara Stadium on Sunday.
Osimhen was one of the squad’s finest performers, scoring once, assisting once, and winning two penalties, giving him a hand in four of Nigeria’s eight goals during the event.
Following the second-placed finish, the Eagles returned to Nigeria on Monday and were received by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday who awarded the players and team officials National Awards of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and other prizes.
According to Naples-based Italian publication, Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen is expected to return to Napoli on Wednesday and is even expected to play agains Genoa in their next game on Saturday.
“Osi should return to base tomorrow (Wednesday). At the latest Thursday on the pitch, reasonably in time to then lead the team Saturday at Maradona against Genoa,” the sports paper read after translation.
Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has already said that he expects Osimhen to leave the defending champions this summer, just one season after he fired them to a league title for the first time in 33 years.
“We’ve known all this since last summer, which is also why negotiations for the extension of his contract, although friendly, took so long,” De Laurentiis said.
“We know he’s either going to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or an English club.”
Osimhen signed a contract extension with the Italian champions in December that contains a release clause of between €120m to €130m.