Nigerian attacker Victor Osimhen is due to arrive at his Serie A side Napoli on Wednesday (today), having completed his international duty at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The 25-year-old and the Super Eagles battled their way to the AFCON final, where they were defeated 2-1 by the host 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 their second-place finish, the Super Eagles returned to Nigeria on Monday and were greeted by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, who presented the players and team officials with National Awards of Member of the Order of Niger (MON) and other prizes.
According to the Naples-based Italian newspaper, Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen is likely to return to Napoli on Wednesday and even face 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 on Saturday at Maradona against Genoa,” the sports paper read after translation.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has already stated that he expects Osimhen to leave the defending champions this summer, just one season after leading them to the 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, which included a €120 million to €130 million release clause.
