Connect with us

International Football

Finally, Osimhen opens up on rumoured transfer to Saudi Arabia

Published

on

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen was at the brink of switching from Napoli to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

According to Napoli news outlet, Tutto Napoli, the striker made the disclosure while speaking to ‘Obi One Podcast’, the podcast of former Nigerian footballer John Obi Mikel.

He confirmed that he was almost switching to Al Hilal, the former club of Odion Ighalo.

What has been said is true. I have to be honest, I never thought about leaving last summer because Napoli wanted to keep me, but when the offer came from Saudi Arabia, a huge offer, it was hard to refuse. I spoke to Napoli and decided to stay”, Osimhen remarked.

Advertisement

It was crazy… The more I said no, the more the economic supply increased. It would have changed my life, they never gave up. But I said: no guys, I’m staying. Do I want to continue playing in Europe now? Of course.

 

“I had talks in August, it was a huge decision for me to make. I spoke to Napoli and we decided together to refuse.

“I didn’t want people to think I wanted to leave. It was a positive decision for my career. As much as football is also played for money, there is also so much more.”

Regarding the English Premiership, Osimhen said he doesn’t have a favourite team.

Advertisement

But I had two shirts: Chelsea and Manchester United. A lot of my friends support Chelsea, a little less Manchester United. The Premier League is a league that is very popular with African footballers.”

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.