Napoli star won’t go back to play in a league twice
By Ed Emeanua
If he could help it, Victor Osimhen won’t be caught in the habit of going back to play in a league after he’s moved on from it.
So far, the Napoli star forward has had prior playing stints in Germany, Belgium, France, and is currently domiciled in Italy, meaning his new favored destination, should he decide to leave Napoli this summer, rules out all interests from those past climes.
French side Paris Saint Germaine and Germany’s Bayern Munich have all signified interest to sign the Nigeria forward this summer, but, according to the Evening Standard, former Italy and Napoli star midfielder Salvatore Bagni is quoted as saying that Osimhen only sees Manchester United and Real Madrid as his desired likely new stops, canceling out the hope of a summer transfer to Chelsea and Liverpool because playing for them now would deny the Napoli superstar champions League football opportunity next season.
“Victor Osimhen won’t return to France because he already played there. The same thing with Germany,” said former Italy midfielder Bagni.
“He doesn’t go to Liverpool or Chelsea because they do not play the Champions League.
“Of all the teams associated with him, for me, he would only go to Manchester United and Real Madrid. He’s not interested in the other teams.”
Osimhen is among the major transfer focus for mainstream European clubs after a remarkable season that saw him emerge the Serie A’s Capocannoniere, stumping up 26 goals in 32 matches to help Napoli to its first Scudetto win in 33 years, and also marshaling the Partenopei to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Chelsea have shortlisted the 24-year-old as a likely choice and are willing to match any costs to sign the Napoli forward, having made the signing of a gentry top forward a prime concern for new boss Mauricio Pochettino this summer as they make plans for life without Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after comfortless spells at Chelsea, just as Liverpool are also reported to be readying to make an approach.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich are contemplating coming up with an offer of over €100 million as they equally pursue to land a young player up front.
In the mean time, Osimhen is valued at €150 million by Napoli, whose president Aurelio De Laurentiis is regarded as one of the most formidable conciliators in football transfers and is unlikely to be enticed into further talks over the set fee for the transfer of Osimhen. The Nigerian is under contract with Napoli until June 2025.
But, the price tag might not be the only obstacle confronting teams like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea in their interest for one of the hottest attacking prospects in global football, with the player now focused on a possible summer transfer to just two clubs in Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Manchester United has made the signing of a striker their top consideration this summer following their overt reliance on Marcus Rashford last term on the heel of the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Club, coupled with the failure of loan signing Wout Weghorst to impress in front of goal.
Osimhen has been constantly identified with a summer transfer to Manchester United, and the forward is seen as the right fit for the number nine role in manager Erik ten Hag’s football philosophy.
Real Madrid are also in the same boat with Manchester United in the hunt of a forward, as they have been forced to play without a recognized top-nine since replacing Karim Benzema with temporary solution Joselu. Osimhen is not only a text-book goal scorer; he’s physically strong, an aerial threat, has good link-up play and possesses a quick burst of speed.
But the stumbling block to his dream move remains if any of his two favored clubs can meet De Laurentiis’ asking price this summer.
Napoli’s president is also believed to be ready to hold on to the Nigeria international for one more year should a suitor fail to meet Napoli’s transfer valuation for Osimhen, having himself suggested publicly recently that Napoli had reached a decision to extend their star forward’s stay in Naples.
