Why I Turned Down Saudi Offer – Osimhen
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen disclosed that he turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, acknowledging that it would have changed his life. Despite it being a challenging decision, he explained the reasons behind rejecting the offer.
Osimhen gained prominence during the previous season with Napoli, contributing significantly to their historic Scudetto success. His outstanding performance, scoring 26 goals and providing five assists in 32 league games, attracted attention from top clubs worldwide, including Manchester United and Chelsea.
In a conversation with John Obi Mikel on the 'Obi One Podcast' via Calciomercato.com, Osimhen shared his thoughts on the Premier League and expressed his admiration for certain clubs. Mikel playfully suggested Osimhen heading to Chelsea next summer, acting as an intermediary.
Next season, I'm confident you'll join Chelsea, man! Trust me, I'll be the agent orchestrating that deal. I'll ensure it becomes a reality. We're eager for someone like you since Drogba left the club.
In response, the 24-year-old revealed that he has two EPL clubs in mind for a potential move.
"I don't have a preferred Premier League club, but I own two jerseys – one from Chelsea and one from Manchester United. Most of my friends are Chelsea fans, and a few support Manchester United. The Premier League is the most sought-after league for any African player; it's a fantastic league," stated Osimhen.
During the summer, Saudi club Al-Hilal made a significant effort to acquire Osimhen, offering €200m to Napoli. However, Napoli's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, adamantly rejected the offer, expressing his unwillingness to let the star striker depart at that time.
Reflecting on Al-Hilal's substantial offer, Osimhen acknowledged that the lucrative proposal from Saudi Arabia 'would have changed his life.' He revealed, "What was 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.
"It was crazy... The more I said no, the more they increased the financial offer. It would have changed my life; they never gave up. But I said, no guys, I'm staying."
When questioned about his desire to continue playing in Europe, Osimhen responded, "Of course. I had talks in August, and 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 you play football for money, there is also so much more to it," Osimhen said.
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