Antonio Conte impressed with Victor Osimhen at training despite wish to leave Napoli

Antonio Conte impressed with Victor Osimhen at training despite wish to leave Napoli

Napoli manager Antonio Conte been impressed by Nigeria international Victor Osimhen's professionalism at training even though the striker may not be granted his wish to leave the club.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis had said back in January that Osimhen would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

"We already knew it since last summer," De Laurentiis said at the time. "The negotiations for the renewal would not have been this long otherwise.

"We already knew he would go to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or the Premier League."

However, the 26-year-old could very much remain at the club for another season as the clubs he has been linked with - Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain - are reluctant to meet the 130 million euro buyout clause in his contract with Napoli.

PSG reportedly submitted a 200m euro combined offer for Osimhen and his Napoli team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Conte said: "We are talking about Victor as a professional, an excellent, top player.

"I spoke to him and he knows that absolutely nothing has changed. He belongs to Napoli and he knows that those who belong to Napoli have to work hard and have the right attitude, even if there is this sort of agreement, that we still don't know how it will end.

"He's here with a smile, and what counts at the moment is the training this afternoon and the attitude with me and my colleagues."

The Super Eagles sharpshooter has scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for the Naples outfit. In the 2022/23 season, the current African Player of The Year scored 25 league goals to lead Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years - winning the Golden Boot in the process.

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