Victor Osimhen’s Transfer Could Cause Napoli To Lose The Serie A Title

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It was a disappointing title defense for Serie A side, Napoli last season as they went through three different managers and then failed to qualify for the any European competition, but that is proving to be a blessing in disguise for them currently. Now, under Antonio Conte, they’re current top of the table.

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They’re ahead of the reigning Champions, Inter Milan with two points and this is despite the fact that they lost some important players between the summer and the just concluded January transfer window as Victor Osimhen (loan) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (permanent) moved to Galatasaray and PSG respectively.

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In a surprising twist, it looks like the former might cause them to eventually lose this season’s title even though his future obviously lie away from the club when he returns from his loan at the end of the season. According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport, the Partenopei could face a shock points deduction in the Serie A title race.

This would be as a result of the investigation into the club’s accounting. In 2022, the Italian FA Federal Court investigated Naples-based club. This was in regards to questions about the problems in Campanian club’s accounting, as well as the Osimhen transfer.That investigation resulted in an acquittal for them.

Hence, there was no punishment for the Partenopei, but according to the latest report, Italian FA prosecutor Giuseppe Chine will receive new evidence. The prosecutor will receive documents that he had requested last year, but which at the time were classified, and this could have major ramifications for Napoli.

Three years ago in 2022, Chine had asked for an eleven-month transfer ban for Napoli as a result of alleged accounting discrepancies and the Osimhen transfer. At the time, the Federal Court had found there was not sufficient evidence. However, Chine will be considering new evidence in the form of further documents.

Now, if the prosecutor is to request a reopening of the trial, the Federal Court of Appeals would have thirty days to convene a hearing. Under Article 63 of the Code Of Sports Justice in Italy, the case could indeed be reopened in the event that Chine finds new and relevant evidence. In that case, the question would be what potential punishment Napoli could receive.

One possibility would be a fine, but the more likely outcome would be a points deduction according to the report. This would be similar to the ten-point deduction that Juventus received a couple of seasons ago. That had been a sanction for falsifying capital gains, and if the trial were to conclude by the end of April, then the points deduction would be applicable for this season.

That certainly raises the possibility of having a huge impact on the league, especially in the title race. In a related development, Conte is expected to stick with the 3-5-2 formation when the League leaders face Como this weekend, but with a few tweaks to the players. They were held to a third consecutive draw after playing 2-2 away to Lazio.

That game saw them scrap the 4-3-3 approach and return to Conte’s old 3-5-2 that had been favoured throughout his career at Juventus, Inter, Chelsea and the Italy squad. This was prompted by the lack of available full-backs, as Leonardo Spinazzola and Mathias Olivera were both injured, along with winger David Neres.

According to the same source, those three are still going to be out of the trip to Como this weekend. The 3-5-2 should therefore remain, but with some adjustments, as Matteo Politano can step into the starting XI on the right flank. He Is a far more attack-minded option than captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who can instead be used in the back three.

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Consequently, Juan Jesus would drop to the bench now that Alessandro Buongiorno is fit and available again. On the left, Pasquale Mazzocchi remains the only real option, hoping that Spinazzola or Neres will be fit in time for the Scudetto showdown against Inter.

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