Antonio Conte Takes Subtle Jab at Osimhen, Praises Team-First Approach at Napoli

Newly appointed Napoli manager, Antonio Conte, has seemingly taken a dig at former club star, Victor Osimhen, as his team continues to perform impressively without the Nigerian striker.

Osimhen, who was Napoli’s top performer in recent seasons, scored 26 goals in 32 league appearances, helping the club clinch the 2022-2023 Serie A title after a 33-year drought. However, injuries last season, coupled with a public fallout over a mocking TikTok post by the club, led to Osimhen’s exit this summer. He eventually secured a loan move to Turkish side Galatasaray after failed transfer attempts to Chelsea and Saudi Arabian side, Al-Ahli.

In his place, Conte brought in Romelu Lukaku, who has already netted two goals in his first two matches for Napoli. With the team securing three wins in four games, Napoli currently tops the Serie A standings.

In an interview quoted by *Corriere dello Sport*, Conte appeared to throw shade at Osimhen, emphasizing the importance of eliminating selfish players from the team.

“The most important thing is the team,” Conte said. “Egoistic and selfish players must go. You don’t win with individuals, you win with the collective effort of the team.”

He added, “You have talented players, and you must develop them for the good of the team, but ego has no place here. I don’t get along with players who are all about themselves.”

Conte’s remarks seem to underline his commitment to team cohesion and discipline as the club pushes forward without Osimhen.