- Antonio Conte admitted he failed to change the situation at Napoli as star players Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will leave the club in the summer
- Osimhen was loaned to Galatasaray after failing to secure a permanent move, while Kvaratskhelia’s contract negotiations stalled
- Conte clarified that his disappointment lies with himself, not the players, for failing to alter the situation in six months
Napoli’s decision to keep star players Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the summer transfer window seems to have backfired, with head coach Antonio Conte admitting his inability to turn the situation around.
What started as a hopeful campaign under a decorated manager has unravelled into a tale of missed opportunities and diminished player value.
Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, who were important in Napoli’s 2023 Scudetto triumph, were at the centre of transfer rumours last summer.
Reports suggested both players had expressed a desire to leave, but the club, reeling from a disastrous season that saw them finish 10th in Serie A and miss out on European football, refused to sell. Conte was brought in to salvage the situation, but his influence proved insufficient.
Speaking to the press, Conte expressed his frustration over the situation, admitting he had hoped to convince Kvaratskhelia to stay while trying to facilitate a smooth transition,
"I spoke about disappointment not towards the player, not towards the club, but towards myself, in six months, I failed to change the situation... I thought I could have a stronger impact, but I couldn’t do it," he said.
Osimhen’s situation was particularly challenging. The Nigerian striker refused to participate in pre-season friendlies, making his intentions to leave clear. With no suitable offers by deadline day, Napoli resorted to loaning him to Galatasaray after the Turkish transfer market remained open, hoping to preserve his market value.
Kvaratskhelia, on the other hand, reportedly sought an exit but was held back at Conte’s insistence, as negotiations for a new contract stalled. Reflecting on the Georgian winger, Conte clarified,
"I am not let down by Kvara… He’s a great player, but everyone has to decide their own destiny."
Napoli’s reluctance to sell both stars last summer came at a steep price. Paris Saint-Germain had reportedly been prepared to pay €200m for the pair as a package deal. Now, with both players’ market values plummeting, PSG is rumoured to offer just €55m for Kvaratskhelia, while Osimhen’s value has dropped to €75m, well below his €120m release clause.
Conte admitted the reality was hard to accept, noting,
"A coach should help a club make decisions... but we also have to accept reality," he said.
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.
