Napoli stars Victor Osimhen, Amir Rrahmani, David Ospina and Elif Elmas, will today travel to the British Embassy in Rome to obtain special visas to play against Leicester City in the Europa League.
That’s according to Il Mattino, who provide more information on the Covid chaos ahead of the game on September 16th.
Leicester are set to host their Italian counterparts in matchday one of their Europa League group stage on that date, but Covid rules are causing several issues for the Serie A side.
Several of their players have recently returned from red list countries during the international break, meaning they will be required to isolate upon entering the UK and thus miss the game.
That’s led to some unhappiness in Italy, with it even suggested that the game should be played at a neutral venue to avoid the rules.
Now it seems the players are working on a get around, with Il Matitino explaining Boris Johnson has given the ‘green light’ for them to travel.
They explain that the four players have been ‘summoned’ to the British embassy in Roma for ‘visa arrangements’ ahead of the tie.
According to their information, they will meet with the staff of the ambassador Jill Morris, wife of Giovanni Melillo, the head of the Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office, who will then forward the ‘paperwork’ to the British government.
What that paperwork is, isn’t mentioned, but it is stated Johnson has made a ‘decree’ and the ‘green light’ has been given for the national teams. In other words, it appears there’s been some sort of decision made for the players to arrive and play.
This is seemingly backed up by Sky Italy journalist Francesco Modugno, who recently appeared on the show to explain the situation.
“England still have a quarantine requirement for those arriving from ‘red list’ countries. Osimhen and Ospina are among these countries,” Spazio Napoli report him saying.
“The issue is open and in flux. UEFA and FIFA are in contact. UEFA guarantees, but we need a written authorisation from the English government to avoid cases like the one in Brazil-Argentina.”
It would seem, then, that is what the meeting is for. Osimhen and his teammates are heading to the embassy to get written permission so they can travel and then face Leicester without any complications.
In truth, it’s a complicated mess, and we’re sure we’ll be hearing plenty more about it in the next six days ahead of the game.
