Real Madrid have at various times been linked with Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen, but Coach Carlo Ancelotti has now explained why the European champions did not sign the player.
Osimhen, riding high on his exploits with Napoli, was last summer seen as a direct replacement for Karim Benzema, who left for the petro-dollars in Saudi Arabia.
“We didn’t sign Osimhen because I think the club thought that Benzema’s absence could be remedied by purchasing Jude Bellingham,” Ancelotti told Radio Serie A.
Bellingham has since proved to be an inspired transfer as Real won the UEFA Champions League and the La Liga last season.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has resumed pre-season training with Napoli, but the Nigerian international keeps waiting for offers to leave the Stadio Maradona.
Osimhen is not expected to remain at the Stadio Maradona beyond the summer even as he hasn’t yet received formal offers to leave the club.
Osimhen’s contract includes a €130m clause, and despite links with Chelsea and PSG, the Partenopei have not yet heard from potential suitors, so their star striker will start preparing for the new campaign with the rest of the team.
La Repubblica reports that Osimhen was among the first players to arrive at Napoli’s training centre on Tuesday morning.
The group included Leonardo Spinazzola and Rafa Marin, who had had medical tests on Monday, while Alessandro Buongiorno will undergo examinations on Wednesday.
Antonio Conte is prepared to part company with Osimhen, as the coach explained in his first press conference. Romelu Lukaku has emerged as the primary option to replace the Nigerian striker.
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