Victor Osimhen brutally cut from Napoli squad for Serie A & stripped of shirt number as it's handed to Romelu Lukaku amid rift after failed Chelsea & Al-Ahli transfers

The Nigerian forward failed to get out of Napoli before the summer transfer window closed on Friday as his reported move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli collapsed at the last moment on the deadline day after the Italian side demanded an extra €5million (£4m/$5.5m) on top of the €80m (£67m/$88m) that was offered, according to Sky Sports in Italy. Had the deal gone through, Osimhen would have earned €40 million (£33.7m/$44.3m) per season for four years, however, it did not materialise as he stayed back at Napoli.

After seeing his proposed transfer fall apart, Osimhen and his agent reportedly reacted angrily, with the latter making furious phone calls to club president Aurelio De Laurentiis and sporting director Giovanni Manna. The entire episode has destroyed the relationship between the club and the striker and he has now been excluded from Antonio Conte's squad for the 2024-25 season Serie A season.

With Romelu Lukaku already having arrived to take his place at the Serie A side, the Belgian has now been handed the No.9 shirt which was previously worn by Osimhen.

The 25-year-old is now stuck in limbo with no transfer on the horizon and Conte apparently prepared to leave him frozen out of the team. Gli Azzurri will be next seen in action on Saturday as they take on Parma in a league clash.