Despite the ongoing tensions between Osimhen and Napoli, the club's president has rued the striker's absence through injury and called for a reform of international football laws.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has made some unusual comments about international football after losing key forward Victor Osimhen to an injury during the just-concluded international break.
Napoli lose Osimhen to lenghty injury
Osimhen was forced off during Nigeria's 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia during the last international window and is set for a few weeks on the sidelines to the frustration of all at Napoli.
Osimhen has suffered a number of setbacks while playing for the Super Eagles in recent years, and Napoli president, De Laurentiis lamented the situation in a recent interview transcribed by Calciomercato.
Despite the ongoing tensions between club and player over a new contract, De Laurentiis still sees Osimhen as a key player, and was upset that little was being done to safeguard the clubs from suffering the impact of injuries suffered during international breaks.
The Movie executive noted that his club Napoli had scarcely been properly compensated financially for player injuries by world football's governing body FIFA whenever players get injured on international duty.
Napoli president wants international football reform
De Laurentiis lamented, "Since 2013 we have received a total of circa €4m in reimbursement for the participation of our players in international games, despite the fact there were always at least 10 players called up."
The 74-year-old further noted that international duty should not be for all players, saying, "This is no good. I think international duty should only be for players of a maximum of 22 years, so it gives them good practice and visibility. I also believe the clubs should be allowed to decide whether to release their players, especially if it is a friendly.
The Napoli president also called for greater compensation to clubs whose players get inured during international break, saying, "If I paid €50m for a player and he returns injured, they ought to reimburse the club for the cost of every day he is out of action."
Osimhen is set to be out of action for up to six weeks, missing crucial Napoli matches against Milan, Atalanta, Inter, Union Berlin twice, and possible also Real Madrid and Juventus.
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