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Tag: Napoli

  • Napoli star Kim Min-Jae snubs Man United, PSG for Bavarian giants Bayern Munich

    Napoli star Kim Min-Jae snubs Man United, PSG for Bavarian giants Bayern Munich

    Napoli’s talented center-back and South Korea international, Kim Min-jae seems poised to reject interest from both PSG and Premier League clubs in favor of a move to Bayern Munich, as reported by RMC Sport.

    Kim joined Napoli at the start of the 2022/2023 season in a €18m from Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbache.

    The reigning Serie A champion is expected to sign a five-year contract, binding him to the Bundesliga giants until 2028. Advanced negotiations between Kim Min-jae and Bayern Munich are currently underway, and it is anticipated that a transfer fee slightly higher than his €47m release clause will be agreed upon between Bayern and Napoli.

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    If the deal goes through, Kim Min-jae will earn a salary of €17m per year with Bayern, ensuring a significant financial windfall for his agents, estimated at around €15m.

    Bayern Munich had been actively seeking a center-back due to the uncertainties surrounding the futures of French internationals Lucas Hernandez (27) and Benjamin Pavard (27). Both World Cup winners from 2018 with the French national team are considering potential departures from the Bundesliga champions, despite being under contract until 2024.

    Kim Min-jae’s exceptional performances have earned him recognition, as he was named Serie A’s best defender and secured a place in the league’s Team of the Year, following an impressive debut season with Napoli, culminating in winning the Scudetto.

    June 20, 2023
  • New Napoli coach wants Osimhen stay

    New Napoli coach wants Osimhen stay

    New Napoli boss Rudi Garcia doesn’t want to part ways with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

    According to Italian publications, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport, the French coach has already informed President Aurelio De Laurentiis that he doesn’t want to sell Osimhen and his strike partner in the summer.

    It is understood that the Partenopei won’t sell the Nigeria international for less than €150-160m and will offer him a contract extension in the coming weeks.

    According to Gazzetta, Jonathan David of Lille is Napoli’s main target if Osimhen leaves.

    There are no doubts that South Korea international Kim will leave the Stadio Maradona in July, with Bayern Munich ahead of Man United in the race for the 26-year-old.

    Gazzetta claims Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini is Garcia’s favourite target to replace Kim, although the likes of Kevin (Lens), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Kou Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Dávid Hancko (Feyenoord) are also being monitored by the Serie A champions.

    Garcia will be unveiled by Napoli at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

    Osimhen’s 31 goal contributions (26 goals and five assists) from 32 appearances in the league helped Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years, and he also became the first African to win the Capocannoniere, the Serie A top scorer award.

    The striker also broke a 14-year jinx of being the first player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic to win the Scudetto and the Capocannoniere same season.

    His impressive performance has attracted several clubs in Europe, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all reportedly in the race to sign the forward, whose contract expires in 2025.

  • SERIE A: Napoli appoint former Al-Nassr coach as new manager

    SERIE A: Napoli appoint former Al-Nassr coach as new manager

    Reigning Serie A champions, Napoli, have announced the appointment of Rudi Garcia as their new head coach.

    The 59-year-old Frenchman takes over from Luciano Spalletti, who left the club to take a sabbatical after leading Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years in May.

    Garcia has prior experience managing in Serie A, having previously coached Roma. He achieved success during his time at Lille, winning a French league and cup double in the 2010-11 season. After departing Lille, he went on to manage Marseille and Lyon before his most recent role at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, which concluded in April.

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    Napoli will look to Garcia to build upon the club’s recent success and maintain their status as one of the top teams in Italian football. With his wealth of experience in both domestic and international leagues, Garcia will aim to guide Napoli to further achievements in the upcoming season.

    “I have the pleasure of announcing that, after having met and attended him during the last 10 days, Mr Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli,” said owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

    “A sincere welcome to him and a big good luck!“

    June 16, 2023
  • SERIE A: ‘Daylight robbery’, Nigerians lament as Osimhen loses player of the season award

    SERIE A: ‘Daylight robbery’, Nigerians lament as Osimhen loses player of the season award

    Fans of Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, have taken to social media platforms to express their displeasure after the Nigerian footballer lost the Italian Player of the Season award to his Georgian teammate, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

    The Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC), today announced  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the best player of the 2022/2023 season which saw Napoli lifting the Italian Serie A for the first time since the 1989-90 season.

    The decision to give the Italian league’s most decorated award to Kvaratskhelia however did not sit well with some Nigerians who believe Osimhen should have been given the award for his starling performance which saw him recording 25 goals and 4 assists as against 12 goals and 10 assists recorded by Kvaratskhelia in the league this season.

    Expressing his dissatisfaction on Twitter, a popular media influencer @Mbahdey for you wrote, ” Victor Osimhen Robbed of Serie A  Player of the Season”

    Supporting his position, another Twitter user, @_AsiwajuLerry rubbished the Italian league, and Twitter “Victor Osimhen has been robbed of the Serie A player of the season. This Italian league smh!”

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    He continued, “I am not going to shout racism but there’s no single player who deserves the Serie A MVP Award over Victor Osimhen. Why? Cos he’s the only player who dominated the league from the start to the end. Know this and know peace.”

    Another user, @Valklng wrote, “Victor Osimhen has been robbed of the Serie A player of the season 💔.. This Italian league is the biggest joke of them all.

    @Lanresms tweeted, “This is daylight robbery. Osimhen needs to get out of this league ASAP. Freaking racist league. There is no way this guy should have won the MVP over Osimhen.”

    Also commenting on the development, @SanniUthman7 tweeted, “Even Kvaratskhelia himself knows Osimhen carried the team through their toughest spell of the season. We saw him against Ac Milan in the UCL without Osimhen. And he🇳🇬 certainly wasn’t outshined by the Georgian when it wasn’t so tough so how do they judge this MVP. ROBBED ❌❌❌“

    Osimhen however won Serie A’s forward of the season award after scoring 25 goals and recording 4 assists in 31 appearances.

    June 2, 2023
  • Everyone thinks I’m Osimhen, says Napoli striker’s look-alike

    Everyone thinks I’m Osimhen, says Napoli striker’s look-alike

    Doma United striker, Charles Chibuike, said he wished he scored more goals in the just-concluded regular season of the Nigeria Professional Football League, just like Napoli talisman, Victor Osimhen, The PUNCH reports.

    Chibuike first attracted attention with his Osimhen resemblance at the start of the 2022/23 NPFL season, when he scored on his league debut for Doma United and also vowed to keep scoring like the Napoli man.

    At the end of the regular season in the NPFL, Chibuike proved crucial to the Savannah Tigers’ incredible run in the league, scoring four times as they finished just a point behind the top three spots in Group B.

    The Minna-born striker also scored three times during their state FA Cup campaign and four more in the Federation Cup before Doma crashed out to Enugu Rangers in the quarter-finals.

    “I wanted to score more and be among the Golden Boot chasers, but I’ve come to understand many more things about being a league player and I’m working to improve, especially in terms of goalscoring. I really want to do it like Osimhen scores spectacular goals from impossible angles. I will be more focused next time,” Chibuike told The PUNCH.

    Chibuike added that people still mistake him for Osimhen, due to his striking resemblance with the fellow forward, but he however still feels bad the Napoli talisman doesn’t know him.

    “Everyone thinks I’m Osimhen. Countless times every day when I step out, people call me Osimhen. For instance, we checked into a hotel for our FA Cup game in Abuja, a guy saw me and started screaming. He didn’t leave me until he took pictures with me,” Chibuike told our correspondent.

    “Somehow, it’s refreshing but on the other hand I feel bad because I don’t even think Osimhen knows me.”

  • SERIE A: Napoli eye Luis Enrique as Spalletti set to depart on sabbatical

    SERIE A: Napoli eye Luis Enrique as Spalletti set to depart on sabbatical

    Napoli manager, Luciano Spalletti, will be taking a one-year sabbatical after leading the club to their first Serie A title in 33 years, according to the club’s president.

    Spalletti, aged 64, took charge of Napoli in July 2021 and achieved a third-place finish in his debut season. Although he has one year remaining on his contract, President Aurelio De Laurentiis has expressed his respect for Spalletti’s decision.

    During an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai, De Laurentiis stated, “He’s a free man, he’s given us something and I thank him. It’s right that he does what he wants.” The president acknowledges Spalletti’s contributions to the club and supports his desire to take some time off.

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    Under Spalletti’s guidance, Napoli secured their first Italian top-flight title since 1990 on May 4th, with five matches to spare. They also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, impressively defeating teams like Liverpool, Ajax, and Rangers in the group stage.

    Reports from Corriere dello Sport suggest that former Roma, Celta, and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, who recently stepped down as the Spain national team coach following the 2022 World Cup, is the “ideal candidate” to succeed Spalletti at Napoli.

    Napoli, who drew 2-2 against Bologna on Sunday, will play their final match of the season at home against Sampdoria next Sunday.

    May 29, 2023
  • Luciano Spalletti set to leave Napoli following Serie A triumph

    Luciano Spalletti set to leave Napoli following Serie A triumph

    Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has reached a decision regarding his future at the club.

    According to reports out of Italy, The 64-year-old Italian has opted to take a sabbatical in the upcoming season.

    According to Sky Italia, Spalletti had already expressed his desire to leave Napoli during a dinner meeting with president Aurelio de Laurentiis two weeks ago.

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    Following Napoli’s victory over Inter, Spalletti confirmed to the press that he has made a final decision and the club will soon make an official announcement.

    Spalletti’s decision to take a sabbatical next season is a result of a clause in his contract. His current two-year deal with Napoli is set to expire in the summer of 2024, and it stipulates that if he departs in the summer, he would be prohibited from managing another team in the following season.

    May 22, 2023
  • Napoli turn to Lille again for Osimhen replacement

    Napoli turn to Lille again for Osimhen replacement

    Napoli is eyeing a potential move for Lille striker Jonathan David as they consider the departure of Victor Osimhen this summer.

    According to Il Mattino, Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, is open to striking another deal with Lille for a striker if Osimhen leaves and a potential suitor meets Napoli’s €160 million valuation.

    De Laurentiis has a keen interest in signing players from Asia and the Americas, making David an attractive prospect, although discussions are still in the early stages.

    He recently said in an interview, “I’d like to have an American, because in America, even if the championship isn’t worth much, there are great players who shine in the national team. And then a Japanese, while already having a Korean, since there’s a great development of our football in the East and there are new entries to consider. But I wouldn’t want to send any of our players away.”

    ALSO READ: Napoli face Man United headache in contract negotiations with star defender Kim Min-Jae

    While De Laurentiis aims to hold onto players like Osimhen and Kim Min-Jae during the transfer window, he acknowledges the allure of the Premier League and the challenges it presents.

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    In addition to David, Atalanta’s Rasmus Højlund and Christopher Nkunku, who appears to be nearing a move to Chelsea, are also on Napoli’s radar.

    Regarding other positions that need attention, Napoli has expressed interest in Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente as a potential replacement for the outgoing Hirving Lozano. Two players from Eintracht Frankfurt, Daichi Kamada, and Jesper Lindstrøm, have caught Napoli’s attention as well.

    Furthermore, Napoli has shown interest in Udinese’s Lazar Samardžić and Simone Pafundi, a promising youngster from Friuli who will represent Italy at the Under-20 World Cup.

    May 12, 2023
  • Napoli face Man United headache in contract negotiations with star defender Kim Min-Jae

    Napoli face Man United headache in contract negotiations with star defender Kim Min-Jae

    Napoli is making efforts to secure the future of key defender Kim Min-Jae by offering him a new contract, but Manchester United is prepared to tempt him with a higher salary agreement.

    According to La Repubblica, Kim’s existing contract contains a release clause of approximately €60 million, which exclusively applies to foreign clubs. This valuation does not deter the interest of two English clubs, namely Manchester United and Manchester City.

    Aurelio de Laurentiis, Napoli’s president, is determined not to let the South Korean defender slip away. Consequently, on May 10th, De Laurentiis and Kim’s agent engaged in discussions to explore the possibility of revising the current contract, including increasing the player’s wages and modifying the release clause.

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    Presently, Manchester United stands as the frontrunner in pursuing Kim’s services. Although Napoli’s proposed salary adjustment would cap his wages at €4.5 million per season, the English club is willing to go beyond that figure by offering him €7 million per season.

    Kim currently earns €2 million annually. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, highly rates Kim, considering him as a potential replacement for Aymeric Laporte, who is expected to depart this summer.

    De Laurentiis is determined to make every possible effort to persuade Kim to remain with Napoli for the upcoming season. However, it should be noted that Kim is expected to undergo military training during the summer. Coinciding with Napoli’s pre-season trip to South Korea, the defender might undergo training precisely when his release clause becomes active.

    The battle for Kim Min-Jae’s signature intensifies, with Manchester United’s attractive wage offer posing a serious challenge to Napoli’s hopes of retaining the talented South Korean defender.

    May 12, 2023
  • George Weah hails Osimhen over Serie A win with Napoli

    George Weah hails Osimhen over Serie A win with Napoli

    Liberia’s President George Weah has joined the growing number of well-wishers in congratulating Super Eagles striker Victor Osimehn for his remarkable achievements this season with Serie A champions Napoli.

    Osimhen played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumph, ending their 33-year wait for the Serie A title, and along the way, he either matched, broke, or established new records in what has been an outstanding season.

    On Sunday, Osimhen reached a significant milestone in his football career by scoring his 47th goal in the Italian Serie A league, making him the highest-scoring African player in the history of the competition.

    He surpassed the previous record held by George Weah, the only African player to have been crowned World Footballer of the Year.

    President Weah took to his Facebook page on Tuesday to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Osimhen and lauded him for his determination, hard work, and commitment. He expressed his immense pride in Osimhen’s accomplishments and commended the young Nigerian for paying tribute to him upon reaching this remarkable milestone.

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    “I am very glad that you have accomplished a major milestone in your football career, after scoring your 47th goal in the Italian Serie A league,” Mr Weah wrote in his congratulatory message.

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    “I am so proud of your exploits and congratulate you on this remarkable achievement, which is a result of your hard work, dedication and tenacity,” he added.

    However, Mr Weah did not stop there; he encouraged Osimhen to strive for even greater heights, urging him to break more records and achieve further success.

    The former AC Milan star believes that with the kind of hunger for success Osimhen has shown, he could be the next World’s best player Africa has been patiently waiting for after his own exploits.

    “You have won one Scudetto. Great! When I won my first Scudetto with Milan, I said to myself, why one, why not two? I went on to win another Scudetto with Milan. I went on to win the Ballon d’Or.

    “So why not two or more for you, Victor? The sky is your limit. With your dedication, commitment, humility, and hard work, you can conquer the World. Africa needs another World Best. Africa needs another European Best. You, Victor, can deliver that for us.”

    “May you continue to surge forward. My prayers are with you. My blessings are also with you. I am rooting for you, Victor!” The Liberia President concluded in his congratulatory message that has since gone viral.

    May 9, 2023