Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, is expected to arrive at his Serie A club Napoli on Wednesday (today) following the end of his international duty at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, The PUNCH reports.
The 25-year-old and the Super Eagles made a dogged run to the final of the competition where they lost 2-1 to the hosts at the Alassane Outtara stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
Osimhen was one of the top performers in the squad scoring one goal, providing an assist and winning two penalties which meant the African Footballer of the Year had a hand in four of Nigeria’s eight goals at the tournament.
Following the second-placed finish, the Eagles returned to Nigeria on Monday and were received by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday who awarded the players and team officials National Awards of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and other prizes.
According to Naples-based Italian publication, Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen is expected to return to Napoli on Wednesday and is even expected to play agains Genoa in their next game on Saturday.
“Osi should return to base tomorrow (Wednesday). At the latest Thursday on the pitch, reasonably in time to then lead the team Saturday at Maradona against Genoa,” the sports paper read after translation.
Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has already said that he expects Osimhen to leave the defending champions this summer, just one season after he fired them to a league title for the first time in 33 years.
“We’ve known all this since last summer, which is also why negotiations for the extension of his contract, although friendly, took so long,” De Laurentiis said.
“We know he’s either going to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or an English club.”
Osimhen signed a contract extension with the Italian champions in December that contains a release clause of between €120m to €130m.