Ex-Napoli coach fires shot at club president De Laurentiis over Osimhen’s contract situation

• Former Napoli coach Rudi Garcia has criticised club president Aurelio De Laurentiis for mismanaging Victor Osimhen’s contract negotiations, causing instability at the club
• Osimhen’s summer transfer saga saw lucrative offers rejected as De Laurentiis demanded €130 million
• Garcia accused De Laurentiis of interfering in tactics and transfers, fueling discontent among players and leaving Osimhen’s long-term future at Napoli uncertain

Former Napoli coach Rudi Garcia has aimed a scathing attack at club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, accusing him of mishandling Victor Osimhen’s contract situation and bringing back memories of a chaotic summer transfer saga. 

Garcia claimed De Laurentiis’s mismanagement not only strained the club’s relationship with Osimhen but also created instability within the squad, leaving Napoli’s Serie A hopes in jeopardy.

Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who played a pivotal role in Napoli’s Serie A triumph in 2023, became embroiled in a contract standoff that dragged on throughout the summer.

Despite attracting interest from Premier League side Chelsea and Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, De Laurentiis refused to lower his €130 million valuation, ultimately blocking any transfer move.

Speaking to Haber Sari Kirmizi in an interview, Garcia criticised De Laurentiis’s approach, describing it as clueless and damaging, 

“Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis doesn’t understand football. Contracts for key players like Osimhen should have been sorted out long before the summer window,” Garcia stated.

The former manager also revealed that De Laurentiis’s interference extended beyond contracts, accusing the president of meddling in tactical decisions and player selections. Garcia lamented, 

“He interfered with everything, and I paid the price for asking him to step back and trust the professionals.”

The former coach further argued that had he been allowed to remain in charge, Napoli would have been in contention for a Champions League spot instead of languishing in 10th place.

He claimed several players and staff members voiced dissatisfaction with De Laurentiis’s heavy-handed approach, leading to a fractured dressing room.

While Osimhen eventually agreed to a one-year extension, keeping him at Napoli until 2026, his long-term future remains uncertain. Reports indicated that tensions within the club persist, particularly after Osimhen was loaned out to Galatasaray following the failed summer transfers.

Despite penning an extension, Garcia warned that the underlying issues had not been resolved. He hinted that Napoli could face further disruption if De Laurentiis failed to learn from past mistakes. Meanwhile, Piotr Zielinski, another key player caught in contract disputes, recently committed to a new deal, raising questions about Napoli’s priorities.

Galatasaray joins race for Osimhen's signature, ready to bid €50 million

Previously, TheRadar reported that Galatasaray was preparing to shake up the January transfer window with a not-so-surprising move for Nigeria’s star forward Victor Osimhen. 

While Chelsea had long been linked with the 25-year-old striker, the Turkish champions are now looking to secure a permanent deal to keep Osimhen in Istanbul, a city where he has quickly won the hearts of fans.