Victor Osimhen absolved of allegation of bringing new COVID variant to Italy from Nigeria

An official statement from the Hospital Federico II in Naples has denied Napoli striker Victor Osimhen brought a new COVID variant to Italy upon his return from Africa.

Osimhen tested positive for COVID at the beginning of January, upon his return to Naples from Nigeria where he had attended a birthday party without wearing a protective mask.

Regione Campania, according to Football Italia, claimed earlier this week a new COVID variant had been detected in a “professional returning from Africa.”

“A professional returning from a trip to Africa tested positive for COVID19 and thanks to the collaboration between the laboratories of Federico II and the Hospital Pascale, Giuseppe Portella of Federico II identified a highly suspicious case and in a very short time the team of Nicola Normanno discovered a COVID variant never detected in Italy so far,” the statement read.

According to Il Napolista, the professional mentioned in the statement is Victor Osimhen, but the Federico II has denied the report.

“We categorically deny the news that Napoli player Victor Osimhen is the professional from Africa that would have allowed to isolate the variant Covid B.1.525.

“There are no players of SSC Calcio Napoli involved in this. All health data are always strictly processed in full respect of the protection of privacy.”

A Napoli spokesman has told ANSA “every Napoli player underwent swab tests after Osimhen had tested positive, verifying that no other player had been infected. The club is waiting for official news from health authorities on the fact that Osimhen may have had the variant.”