Napoli: Life after Victor
I will miss Victor Osimhen in a Napoli shirt. Since he joined the Partenopei from Lille in 2020, it’s been a wonderful journey and a story culminating in downs but with really, really big ups too.
Having delivered a Scudetto, Osimhen will leave Naples a hero - regardless of what you read about his relationship with the fans.
Osimhen will live on forever in Neapolitan folklore thanks to that championship-winning season. His lovely half-volley goal vs Roma. His chest, knee and volley without the ball touching the floor against them, as well.
The goals versus Juventus. Atalanta. Fiorentina. Sassuolo. The list goes on. And then finally, his equaliser in Udine to clinch the title.
But what’s important is not mourning the good times with Osimhen but rather, what comes next.
The post-Osimhen era will be fascinating. Rearing its head during a time of instability at Napoli, where major rebuilding is needed following a season of idiotic decisions and a whole load of carelessness from the higher-ups.
With three coaches across this season and a very slim chance of qualifying for the Champions League, Napoli’s season has been nothing short of a trainwreck.
Cashing in on Osimhen is an uncomfortable decision, but when you look at Napoli’s squad, it might just be a necessary one.
Aurelio De Laurentiis has some big decisions to make at the end of this season.
His release clause is said to be €120m with PSG set to activate it in the summer, which allows whoever takes over the reigns as Napoli manager a half-decent kitty to improve their squad.
The main objective when reinvesting that money is to sign Kvicha Kvaratshkelia to a long-term deal, preferably without a release clause, although unlikely.
His current deal ends in 2027 but reward and recognition are needed to keep the Georgian sweet because losing not one, but two prized assets in the summer is not an option for the club in its current state.
If they hire Antonio Conte, let’s just hope he isn’t used as a wing-back in a 3-5-2…
And it’s just that. Napoli’s future isn’t exactly looking bright and President Aurelio De Laurentiis has some big decisions to make at the end of this season to not only recover but to make up for his neglect.
Whether it will be Antonio Conte or Vincenzo Italiano - giving the new manager the financial backing (fuelled by Osimhen’s transfer), as well as the freedom to build their squad, is of the utmost importance to allow Napoli to go forward and get back to Champions League football.
Once Kvaratshkelia is signed to a long-term deal, the next priority is to replace Victor Osimhen, of course. But how on earth do you do that?
Amir Rrahmani looks past his best and Natan has disappeared from the starting lineup.
They’re linked with the likes of Joshua Zirkzee (also linked with Milan and Juventus), Victor Boniface from Bayern Leverkusen and even Viktor Gyokeres. And no, they don’t have to get someone named Victor.
Away from the striker department, replacing Piotr Zielinski is a must. The midfield is weak, and with the danger of Stanislav Lobotka being poached by Barcelona, it could get a whole load worse for them.
Jens Cajuste and Hamed Traore are not good enough but with Gianluca Gaetano showing promise at Cagliari, it begs the question as to why they let him leave on loan in the first place.
18-year-old Matteo Popovic is joining on a free transfer this summer as well, which could provide another good option in attacking midfield, if he’s ready for first-team football.
They’re also lacking at centre-half. Juan Jesus is deadweight, Amir Rrahmani looks past his best and Natan has disappeared from the starting lineup for whatever reason.
I’m not sure anyone expected the departure of Kim Min-jae to derail Napoli’s defensive work as much as it did but when you combine that with appointing tactical dinosaurs, it takes its toll.
Properly replacing Kim has to be near the top of their list this summer, even if it’s a year too late.
It’s a vital time for the club and needs to be handled carefully and strategically.
Shockingly, Giovanni Di Lorenzo has dropped in favour among Napolitani too. He’s miles off his Scudetto-winning level, with some calling for him to be dropped entirely, albeit to the stubborn refusal of coach Francesco Calzona.
One of the main reasons is most likely to be the lack of a capable replacement. If I were Napoli, I’d be looking at Raoul Bellanova from Torino who is a breath of fresh air down the right flank.
Right now, Napoli long for the end of the season so they can draw a line under this dismal year and put it behind them.
Whoever they hire and whoever that manager signs, it’s a vital time for the club and needs to be handled carefully and strategically.
It might be my blind hope but I expect Napoli to hire right and be back fighting at the top of the table. I guess time will tell,.
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