David Ospina has revealed a clause inserted in his loan deal with Napoli is now preventing him playing for the Serie A giants.
Ospina made the the move to Napoli on loan in the summer, agreeing to spend the season with the Italian outfit in view of a permanent move.
But having made 17 appearances this season, he has not featured since keeping a clean sheet during a 0-0 draw with AC Milan on January 26.
Since then, 21-year-old Alex Meret – who Napoli signed from Udinese last year – has lined up in goal for four successive games, with Ospina having to settle for a place on the bench.
And the Colombia international has now spoken out on the situation, believing it is because of a clause that Arsenal had inserted in the loan deal they struck with Napoli last year.
“My current situation is that I am on loan for this season and there is a clause based on a certain number of games, where if I play, the transfer will become an automatic purchase,” Ospina said.
“When the situation does not depend on me, all I can do is wait for the decision to be made, which in this case is from Napoli. The club had just made a great purchase with Meret, who is a young goalkeeper with a great future, so I knew that when he came, this might happen.
“He is a great goalkeeper, and we have a great relationship. I’m sure he will be a very important player in the future.”
Should Napoli opt not to sign Ospina on a permanent basis, he will have to return to Arsenal in the summer with one-year remaining on his deal in north London.