A new dispute has erupted at Napoli following the move of Chelsea target Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian striker is linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia, as well as Stamford Bridge, despite signing a new contract with the Italian champions – due to a release clause thought to be worth in the region of £112million.
This led Mamuka Jugeli, the agent of Napoli winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, to claim that Osimhen is more or less guaranteed to sign for a Saudi club at the end of the season.
Having rejected a big payday in the Middle East during the last summer transfer window, Osimhen took to Instagram to furiously deny the claim.
“Dear Mamuka Jugeli,” she wrote. You’re a bastard and a disgrace.
“I’m ashamed of your sense of reasoning. Damn it! Keep my call out of your mouth!”
Napoli will be hoping to keep Osimhen, who has lately been at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, for the long haul after sending him off to Scudetto glory last year.
Another linked with a departure from the Partenopei is winger Kvaratskhelia.
Jugeli cited Real Madrid as a destination for his consumer in the original Georgian TV interview that led to the escalation with Osimhen.
“Osimhen has signed a new contract, but will he really play for Napoli for his entire career?I can tell you, it will go to Saudi Arabia next summer,” he told 1TV.
“Napoli increased his salary, but Khvicha would not accept such a move even for a billion euros. For example, I would prefer to play for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Manchester City. Kvaratskhelia has goals and other preferences.
“He needs to succeed and he’s done that before, he’s one of the three most productive players in the world. Everything will happen in due time, it’s still early.
“No team would say no to the idea of having him on the team. Anyone who knows football will agree with me that it has no limits and that it can be improved. I’ve had contacts with a lot of clubs, but still [Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis, let him go?At the moment, we are bound by a contract.