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Tag: Napoli

  • Napoli the best option – De Bruyne

    Napoli the best option – De Bruyne

    Kevin de Bruyne says Napoli’s offer was the “best option” he had over the summer.

    De Bruyne scored on his debut in victory at Sassuolo on the weekend.

    Speaking to Corriere della Sera about his decision to move to Italy, the veteran midfielder said: “Napoli, the only real offer? No, the best option. There were many offers, but I chose the Italian champions, they are playing in the Champions League, and (Antonio) Conte is a magnificent coach.

    “When you’re young, you only make decisions for yourself. Now I’ve also asked my children, the eldest is 10 and is in an important phase of development.”

    The Belgian continued: “When (Manchester) City decided not to renew my contract, I started looking around. After such a long time, I no longer wanted to stay in England. Among the various options, Napoli seemed the best for my family and for me as a footballer. I can still play at a high level in Serie A.”

    And to those who call him old , the 34 year-old responded: “I think I’m more or less the same as I was 10 years ago. Maybe when you’re younger you’re more dynamic, now I have more experience. You’re evolving as a player: I have my qualities, people know them, but also my weaknesses, like everyone else. I’m not worried or excited: I just try to do my job to the best of my ability, having fun.

    “Football is my passion, and I don’t want it to become just another job. If you enjoy it and put a smile on your face, you end up playing better.”

  • Victor Osimhen officially joins Galatasaray

    Victor Osimhen officially joins Galatasaray

    Victor Osimhen has officially been announced as a Galatasaray player after completing a permanent transfer from Serie A champions Napoli.

    The 26-year-old was met by thousands of excited Galatasaray fans at the airport after he flew into Istanbul to complete his long-awaited transfer.

    Galatasaray will pay a Turkish record fee of €75 million for the Nigeria international, who had a remarkably successful loan spell at the club last season.

    Osimhen was a key player for Okan Buruk’s side as they secured their third consecutive Super Lig title, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists in his 41 games.

    “I don’t know how to describe my feelings. I’m so excited, I’ve arrived at the place I love,” Osimhen told journalists when he landed.

    “I’m at home and I’m very happy. I’m happy to be back here. I thank the president, the vice president, George Gardi and Okan Buruk. I thank the fans who wanted me.

    “I’m happy to continue with Galatasaray. My story continues.”

  • Galatasaray, Napoli in “cold war” over Victor Osimhen

    Galatasaray, Napoli in “cold war” over Victor Osimhen

    Galatasaray’s continued pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has reportedly turned frosty with the two clubs said to be involved in a “cold war.”

    The 26-year-old spent last season on loan with the Turkish giants, where he scored an impressive 37 goals and provided seven assists in his 41 games.

    Galatasaray remain adamant in their pursuit of making that move permanent, but as of yet, have been unable to agree terms with Napoli.

    Napoli are understood to be holding out for Osimhen’s €75 million release clause and are unhappy with the terms they’ve been offered by Galatasaray.

    Their offer matches the asking price, but it would be paid in instalments rather than outright, and President Aurelio De Laurentiis is now making more demands.

    According to AS, he wants specific payment instalments, along with a ’20 per cent stake in Osimhen’s subsequent signing and a guarantee that the player would not be sold to Italian clubs for three years’.

  • Conte reveals reason behind McTominay form at Napoli

    Conte reveals reason behind McTominay form at Napoli

    Napoli boss Antonio Conte has revealed what he believes is the reason for Scott McTominay’s impressive form at the Serie A leaders.

    The 28-year-old has taken to Italian football like a duck to water, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in his 32 games across all competitions.

    McTominay has been key for Napoli as they sit three points ahead of current Serie A holders Inter Milan in the race for this season’s league title.

    Conte, who, like the Scotland international, joined the club last summer, has revealed what he believes in the reason behind his fine form.

    “I think McTominay is stronger today than when he arrived from United. Here he has grown a lot,” he told reporters.

    “I think that he himself feels stronger, with more knowledge, that he is also reaching an important stage of his age to understand where to go in his career because up to now he has been in the middle.

    “He has never had a main role at United that instead we have given him here, he has grown a lot by working, today he is complete.

    “But the improvement that he has had, everyone has had, otherwise it becomes difficult to explain why today we have 74 points.”

  • Romelu Lukaku keeps Napoli of Serie A at the top after winning Roma

    Romelu Lukaku keeps Napoli of Serie A at the top after winning Roma

    Romelu Lukaku ensured Napoli maintained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A with the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over his old club Roma.

    Belgium striker Lukaku poked home his fifth Napoli goal seven minutes after half-time in Naples, handing veteran Claudio Ranieri a defeat on his return to management with his boyhood club Roma.

    Napoli were the better team at the Stadio Maradona and should have been ahead as early as the second minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia somehow sent a free header wide from less than six yards out.

    Kvaratskhelia was also involved four minutes after half-time with a pinpoint cross from which Lukaku glanced just wide.

    Ranieri has a job on his hands at Roma, who are four points above the relegation zone in 12th, but his team were unlucky not to level in the 66th minute when Artem Dovbyk thwacked a header off the bar.

    – Reborn Kean –
    Moise Kean continued his revival at Fiorentina by netting in a 2-0 win at Como which was his team’s seventh in a row in Serie A.

    The 24-year-old has been reborn in Florence after failing to score a single goal at Juventus last season and has scored seven times in his last four matches in Italy’s top flight.

    Napoli lead Atalanta, Inter Milan and Fiorentina by a point in a crowded title race which is yet to offer up a clear favourite for the Scudetto.

    Lazio can join the chasing trio on 28 points with a home win over Bologna in Sunday’s late match, with Juventus four points off the pace in sixth.

  • Osimhen in dilemma as Napoli rejects Galatasaray permanent move

    Osimhen in dilemma as Napoli rejects Galatasaray permanent move

    Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has firmly dismissed all speculation about Super Eagles’ permanent move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

    In a recent statement, Manna pointed out that the Turkish Super Lig champions cannot meet the hefty €75 million buyout clause contained in Victor Osimhen’s contract, and further claimed that negotiations are effectively off the table.

    Napoli’s sporting director stated: “Our door is closed to negotiations. Currently, Galatasaray does not have the financial capabilities to pay this significant amount.”

    Manna also emphasized that although the fee is 75 million euros, it is worth noting that many clubs are showing interest in acquiring Osimhen and are willing to meet that financial demand.

    The 25-year-old striker, who has been performing brilliantly since joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan in September, has made a remarkable impact on the pitch.

    In just nine games across various competitions, Osimhen has scored an impressive eight goals and provided four assists, showcasing his talent and value to the Okan Buruk squad.

    This strong performance has undoubtedly attracted attention, but Manna’s statements indicate that Napoli are not currently pursuing offers for the Nigeria international.

    Galatasaray are planning a swap deal for Osimhen as they may not be able to meet the striker’s release clause.

  • Lukaku rejected EPL offers to join me – Napoli coach, Conte

    Lukaku rejected EPL offers to join me – Napoli coach, Conte

    Napoli coach Antonio Conte says Romelu Lukaku rejected Premier League offers to join him in Naples.

    Lukaku left Chelsea for Napoli in August and has shown signs of returning to his very best under Conte.

    After victory at AC Milan last night, the Azzurri coach said: “There is great empathy with Romelu, he wanted to come to Naples at all costs, he even refused the Premier League to work together again.

    “I can speak highly of him. I am lucky to have an exceptional group of guys. If you have guys ready to die sportingly speaking, you know you can have everything.”

    Conte also said: “I suffer because I would like to win them all. We prepared for this match with just one training session having played on Saturday. I thank the staff and the people who are constantly stressed, I ask a lot of myself and also of the others. The availability of everyone is the thing I like most, together with the unity of purpose.

    “The team has scored many points but we will have to be prepared even when there is some setback. We want to make our fans proud. The boys have all been on the ball. I am excited to work with this group, they are open in what we do.”

  • Osimhen’s January move to Chelsea cannot be ruled out – Napoli director

    Osimhen’s January move to Chelsea cannot be ruled out – Napoli director

    Napoli director Mauro Meluso has said the club are open to selling Victor Osimhen to Premier League side Chelsea this January after a failed summer move.

    The striker was strongly linked with a move to West London but the deal was never finalised and instead he made a last minute loan move to Galatasaray where he has two goals and three assists in four appearances.

    Osimhen’s £109m release clause, which no club was willing to pay in the summer, is no longer active and it is reported that his price has since been cut to around £68m.

    Reports from Corriere dello Sport state that the Nigerian forward is still adamant on joining the Blues.

    Meluso spoke on the striker’s move to Turkey and how a deal with Chelsea could be reached as the Italian club look to sell a player who is no longer part if their plans.

    “It was a last-minute solution so he would not lose the first three months of the season,” Meluso said during the Palermo Football Conference. “We will see in January.”

    The Napoli director added: “He no longer wanted to be part of the first-team.

    “He had received an important offer even before I arrived at Napoli, but (Napoli chairman) Aurelio De Laurentiis didn’t consider it because he thought about the club’s good.

    “He may have made wrong decisions but did them to keep Napoli competitive.”

    Tribalfootball

  • Osimhen reveals who convinced him about Galatasaray

    Osimhen reveals who convinced him about Galatasaray

    Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has revealed his fellow countryman Henry Onyekuru convinced him to join the Turkish club Galatasaray

    Osimhen has joined in a straight loan from Napoli with a break clause for January.

    He said upon signing his contract: “When I heard about Galatasaray’s interest, it was an easy decision for me. I knew how big Galatasaray was and how much of a family club it was. They have an incredible fan base.

    “Henry Onyekuru is my friend and he played for Galatasaray, he told me how big the club, the fans and the people here are. So it was an easy decision for me. When I landed at the airport, the fans welcomed me with so much emotion that I felt very happy. These things are important for a player. I want to do everything I can for them. I can’t wait to start this project. I’m very excited.”

    On a reunion with former Napoli teammate Dries Mertens, he continued: “Dries Mertens was always with me when I played in Italy. He became a big brother to me. He is a person I respect a lot, I am excited to be teammates with him again. I can’t wait to meet my teammates as soon as possible. I was already watching Galatasaray games.

    “I follow Mertens to see how he plays since he came here. I was following his development as a person and as a footballer. The interactions of the players with the fans when they score goals and win games are also exciting. Now I hope our fans will support me after every goal. I can’t wait.

    “I say hello to the Galatasaray fans, Osimhen is here. Thank you very much for welcoming me at the airport. It was a great welcome.”

    Gala have also announced that Osimhen will wear the No45 shirt this season.

  • Turkish club in talks to sign Victor Osimhen

    Turkish club in talks to sign Victor Osimhen

    Turkish club Galatasaray are closing in on a deal to sign Victor Osimhen on loan from Napoli.

    The Nigeria striker was a target for Chelsea before the transfer window closed in England last week.

    Osimhen , 25, was also heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.

    However, it seems Turkey, where the transfer window remains open until Sept. 13, is now his likely destination with Galatasaray announcing they are in talks to bring in the former Wolfsburg and Lille striker.

    “Official negotiations have begun with the football player and his club SSCN Napoli SPA regarding the temporary transfer of professional footballer Victor  Osimhen,” said a statement from the Turkish club.

    Osimhen has scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli since joining from Lille in 2020, including 26 in their 2022-23 Serie A title win.