•Napoli on verge of losing gems who ended club’s trophy drought
Just over a year after Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis boldly declared, “Kvara and Osimhen are not leaving,” the Italian club is set to lose both stars who ended their 33-year Serie A title drought, in what appears to be a dramatic turn of events that has left fans devastated, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen’s summer exit to Galatasaray on loan, after a failed permanent move to Paris Saint-Germain, was just the beginning of Napoli’s struggles to retain their prized assets, with Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia now following a similar path towards the exit door.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte confirmed the devastating news during a pre-match press conference ahead of their Serie A clash against Hellas Verona, revealing that Kvaratskhelia had officially requested to leave the club.
“He asked the club to be sold, without mincing his words,” Conte said.
“This is what was said to me, the player has confirmed his decision to me. Personally, I feel very disappointed because I spent six months trying to make Kvara feel at the centre of the project.”
The parallels between Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia’s situations are striking.
Both players were instrumental in securing Napoli’s first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era, with Osimhen’s 26 league goals and Kvaratskhelia’s creative brilliance forming a formidable partnership that took Serie A by storm.
In May 2023, De Laurentiis had maintained an optimistic stance about keeping his star duo, telling Calciomercato, “Now we must not stop, but continue with our protagonists. We will not keep discontented by force. Kvara and Osimhen are not leaving.”
However, the club’s dramatic fall from grace last season, which saw them go through three different managers and finish the campaign in 10th place, and their off the field issues have made it increasingly difficult to retain their top talents.
The Georgia international, who arrived at Napoli for a modest €12m fee in the summer of 2022, has attracted interest from PSG, with reports suggesting negotiations are underway for a potential €80m transfer.
This situation mirrors Osimhen’s summer saga, where a proposed move to Chelsea collapsed on deadline day, leading to his loan move to Galatasaray.
Conte, reflecting on the challenges of keeping his key players, added, “Many wanted to take other paths. I realise the news about Kvara has come out of the blue, but now I am taking a step back. I can’t keep those who want to leave tied up in chains.”
The imminent departure of Kvaratskhelia, who currently earns around €1.5m per season, comes as PSG has offered a contract worth more than five times that amount.
This financial disparity, combined with Napoli’s apparent reluctance to offer the winger a new contract with a salary raise has made it difficult for the Partenopei to retain the star man.
Osimhen’s success in Turkey, where he has scored 13 goals and provided five assists in just 16 matches for Galatasaray, serves as a reminder of what Napoli stands to lose.
The Nigerian’s departure has already left a significant void in their attacking line, despite the arrival of Romelu Lukaku as his replacement with goals needed from midfielders like new signing Scott McTominay to maintain their title charge.
The situation represents a significant shift from the optimism that surrounded the club following their historic Scudetto victory. De Laurentiis’s bold proclamations about building a dynasty now seem distant, as Napoli faces the reality of losing both architects of their title triumph within two years.
For Napoli fans, the departure of both Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia marks the end of a brief but glorious era that saw their club return to the summit of Italian football.
PSG’s reported offer of €70m for Kvaratskhelia, with potential player exchanges involving Milan Skriniar or Marco Asensio, has been dismissed by Napoli. However, the club appears determined to avoid another prolonged transfer saga like the one that surrounded Osimhen’s departure.