July, 19 2023.
Despite giving credence to a report which quoted Victor Osimhen as saying, he wants to remain at SSC Napoli and help the Serie A Champions retain the Sccudetto, he helped them win as the highest goal scorer and player of the season, new Napoli Manager Rudi Garcia may still have some convincing to do, if he wants the Super Eagles striker to remain at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, in Naples.
The 24-year-old Osimhen has been heavily linked with a move to Ligue 1 giants PSG and the premier league duo, Chelsea and Manchester United this summer, with all three clubs known to be in the transfer market in search of a new striker.
Of all three clubs, Chelsea Manager, Mauricio Pochetino appeared to be the one pushing the more, despite having recently signed Gambia-born Teranga Lions of Senegal forward, Nicolas Jackson.
Garcia who is returning to Italy, having previously managed AS Roma in-between his very successful spell at Lille Metropole and Ligue 1 sides - Olympiqúe Marseille and Lyon, before a stint in Saudi Arabia where he coached Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr FC had this to say, while fielding questions from reporters on the future of Osimhen.
"Of course, I have spoken to him. I can assure you that he wants to stay, he is happy to be with us and still wants to do great things here", Garcia said.
Last week, the President of Napoli, Aurelio de Laurentiis attempted to fend off interest from Chelsea, by insisting that Osimhen won't leave unless an 'obscene' offer is submitted.
The Napoli president said: "We will see Victor wearing our shirt next season, and that's for sure. But if a more than obscene offer arrives, we will move on and find another top talent, just like we did, when we found [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen."
Born Victor James Osimhen on December 29, 1998, the former Nigeria Under-17 FIFA World Cup star in Qatar, the former Vfl Wolfsburg of Germany and Lille of France player, is considered one of the best strikers in European Football and this is based on his very impressive numbers.
He is known for his elite finishing, pace, strength and athleticism, and Napoli has offered him a mouthwatering €6.5 million Annual Salary, intended to persuade him to stay. The improved contract offered him is close to double of his present cumulative annual wage of N3.5 billion.
However, his Agent, Roberto Calenda has made it clear to the reigning Italian champions that he and Osimhen would want more than the record €6.5 million yearly, offered.
Calenda is also making a meal of the player’s rising profile, by demanding that a €100 million release clause be inserted in his new contract with Napoli, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Agent and representatives of SSC Napoli are still locked in deep negotiations, with a view to agreeing terms for the extension of the striker, who papers in France believe could be heading to France, with Ligue 1 champions PSG mulling a €180 million bid for the Super Eagles and Napoli No. 9.
Following a stellar 2022–2023 campaign in the Serie A where he scored 32 goals in 39 matches to help the Gli Azzurris (the Blues) win their first Serie A title in 33 years, and in the UEFA Champions League, where he scored five goals as Napoli reached the last eight and with the 2023/24 European Season to kick-off in under one month, it is still very uncertain in which league Victor Oshimen whose contract will expire in June 2024 will ply his trade next season. But for sure, it's certain that his earnings as a footballer will appreciate a great deal, whether he stays in Naples or moves to a new club this summer, www.ckdmedia.ng reports.
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