Tag: Osimhen

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is the highest paid player in the Italian Serie A.

Osimhen,25, earns about 1.29 Million Pounds (over 2 Billion Naira) a month, according to Transfermarkt.

It is double what he was earning before his goals crowned Napoli champions of Italy for the first time in more than three decades.

This is after he signed a new contract that keeps him at Napoli till June 2026.

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The new deal also has a buyout clause estimated at around 130 Million Euros.

Osimhen has already made it clear he will quit Napoli this summer.

Napoli flamboyant president Aurelio De Laurentiis has admitted they cannot stop this transfer as some of Europe’s top clubs are ready to splash the cash.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen failed to score for Napoli, as they succumbed to a humiliating 3-0 loss against Atalanta at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples,

The Nigeria player was booked for dissent against Atalanta to underline his frustration on a day Napoli wretched campaign continued as they were outclassed in front of their own fans.

He will therefore miss next week’s trip to Monza as he serves out a one-match ban for accumulating that number of cautions.

Read Also: Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG each table N138 Billion for Osimhen

Napoli had hoped to beat Atalanta so as to leapfrog them into sixth place to and move into the bracket for a UEFA Conference playoff.

Another Nigerian starAdemola Lookman started from the bench. The game was quite balanced in the opening minutes, with chances falling to both sides. Osimhen also got a bite at the cherry in the 18th minute, but his header was saved.

Transfer speculations swirling around  Nigeria International striker Victor Osimhen has yet assumed  another dimension after each of the trio, Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG, are reportedly ready to table a staggering  €90m (about N138,974,356,080.00) for the Napoli star striker.

Several  Italian outlets  claim Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis, could accept a bid below the striker’s release clause, said to be around £113 million ($143m) when the Nigerian ace signed a one-year extension last December.

But citing a report in Il Mattino newspaper, Football  Italia has reported  that  Napoli are prepared to part company with Osimhen at the end of the season with  Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG each ready to offer €90m for the Nigeria international.

According to the report, Osimhen is ‘fed up’ with Serie A and is looking forward to leaving the Stadio Maradona.

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Intermediaries are already working with the striker’s agent, Roberto Calenda, to find a new club for the ex-Lille striker, who has scored 72 goals in 125 appearances with the Partenopei since 2020.

The 25-year-old recently signed a contract extension until June 2026 and the new deal includes a release clause of €120-130m.

However, Il Mattino claim  De Laurentiis could accept an offer below the release clause, given that Osimhen has already decided to leave the club with words rife that his next destination is Chelsea.

In fact, Italian journalist Rudy Galetti was quoted as saying  that Osimhen has agreed to personal terms with Chelsea, signalling a potential move to the London club in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Galetti, via his X account (formerly  Twitter), disclosed that Chelsea are prepared to activate Osimhen’s release clause once the 2023/24 season ends.

”Victor Osimhen is always a main target for Chelsea to strengthen their attack,” Galetti said.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is expected to return to action at Napoli immediately after the international break, Soccernet.ng reports.

Osimhen was called up to Nigeria’s squad for the international friendly games against Ghana and Mali. However, he pulled out of the fixtures after sustaining an injury in the Partenopeans’ game against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

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This caused him to miss Napoli’s game against Inter Milan and made him pull out of the fixtures against Mali and Ghana.

An Italian agent has tipped Manchester United to launch a huge summer transfer move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen, 25, is likely to leave the Serie A title holders in the coming months, despite signing a new contract which runs until 2026 in December. The Nigerian is most prominently being linked with a move to Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain but United’s name has been mentioned on an increasingly frequent basis.

With Anthony Martial all but confirmed to be leaving Old Trafford at the end of his contract in June, the Red Devils only have one out-and-out striker in their entire first-team squad: Rasmus Hojlund. Therefore, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and incumbent manager Erik ten Hag are scouring the market in search of a new No.9.

Although Hojlund has turned his first season around after a goal-shy start to life at United, a swoop for Osimhen remains a possibility – at least according to Roberto De Fanti.

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The agent, who works in England as an intermediary, was recently asked which sides could use Osimhen’s services most and he only picked out the Red Devils.

Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, De Fanti noted: “I could say everyone, but the truth is that United above all are looking for a centre forward. Hojlund is doing reasonably well, but the classic number No.9 – the [Erling] Haaland of the situation – could be Osimhen.”

Paying Osimhen’s reported £110million release clause would raise eyebrows given Hojlund’s form, but if Ratcliffe and his INEOS colleagues want to make a statement in their first summer transfer window, signing one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen would certainly be it.

The 25-year-old may’ve recently committed to a new deal but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has strongly hinted that if a club meets his new buyout clause, then Osimhen will be on his way out.

Speaking to Sky Sports at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit in London, De Laurentiis explained: “Victor is another good player that Napoli have. We had (Edinson) Cavani, (Gonzalo) Higuain, (Ezequiel) Lavezzi and we had (Dries) Mertens, we had a lot of people who were fantastic.

“And there are others who are attracted by Real Madrid, by Paris Saint-Germain, by Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea. So you cannot stop them, especially when they have a fixed amount of money where they can be bought.

Napoli‘s main target to replace Victor Osimhen is Santiago Gimenez but Aurelio De Laurentiis will also listen to offers for Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport,

Osimhen is expected to leave Napoli in the summer as the Nigeria international has a release clause in the region of € 120m-130m in his contract with the Partenopei.

According to Gazzetta, the defending Serie A champions have already identified the ideal replacement for Osimhen in Feyenoord star Santiago Gimenez, scorer of 21 goals in 25 appearances this season. The pink paper claims Feyenoord’s asking price is circa €50m.

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Osimhen may not be the only striker leaving the Stadio Maradona in the summer as Gazzetta reports De Laurentiis will also listen to offers for Simeone and Raspadori.

The club president expects to sell the Italy international for more than €35m, the fee he paid to sign him from Sassuolo in 2022.

Despite criticisms  by Italian media following Napoli‘s 3-1 loss against Barcelona on Tuesday, Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero   has praised Nigeria international  striker  Victor osimhen for showing  a ‘positive attitude’ against  the  La Liga giants.

Osimhen failed to impress in Napoli’s Champions League loss to Barcelona on Tuesday, which caused the Partenopei’s elimination from Europe’s elite competition.

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Del Piero was also disappointed by the striker’s performance but still defended him after the final whistle.

 “He put in maximum commitment even if being flagged offside so many times is a little bit excessive,” the 2006 Italy World Cup winner told Sky Sport Italia, as quoted by TMW. “Of course, when you play badly in an important match, you are a little down, but the player’s qualities can’t be questioned. Napoli have had a negative season, so you don’t always face what happens with a smile. However, Osimhen’s attitude was always positive.”

Osimhen has scored 13 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions this season, including one in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Barcelona two weeks ago.

The Nigeria international has recently extended his contract with the Partenopei until June 2026 but is expected to leave in the summer with a €130m clause.

Del Piero won the Champions League and the World Cup as a footballer and has the most goals and appearances in Juventus’ history. He left the Old Lady in 2012 after winning the first Scudetto in the post-Calciopoli era.

Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka underlined the strong mentality of Napoli star Victor Osimhen and spoke about the idea of seeing him in the Premier League this summer.

The 25-year-old Nigerian striker is widely expected to leave the Partenopei in a high profile transfer this summer, having signed a new contract with the defending Serie A champions at the tailed of last year that contains a €120-130m release clause.

Osimhen has continued to shine despite Napoli’s chaos this term, netting 11 goals and providing three assists across 16 league matches, and he has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

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Speaking to Sky Sports UK, Onyeka was asked what it was like to play with Osimhen in the Nigeria squad at the Africa Cup of Nations and if he could join him at Brentford.

 “No, no, no! He’s too expensive! He’s a really good guy but he’s someone that wants to win. He doesn’t like to lose, even in training. He always wants to push players around him, try to encourage them. He’s a fighter. He’s always there to help the team, fight for the team. Even when the team is down he’ll be the first man to push the team. He never gives up.”

Samuel Felix Agba has emerged as one of the standout players in Lebanon and vying for the prestigious title of Best Foreign Player of the Year in the Lebanese second division. He talks about his journey so far as well as his future targets.

By Oluwamayomikun Orekoya

Nigerian striker Samuel Agba has been in terrific form in the Lebanese second division.

 Since joining Al Mabarra in August 2023, Agba immediately established himself as a key player, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists for the Beirut-based side in just 18 appearances. His remarkable debut season not only propelled his team to a third-place finish but also put him in contention for the Best Foreign Player of the Year award.

Before joining the Lebanese side, the 29-year-old  striker had also had stints in Bahrain, Benin Republic and various clubs on the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

“I am a professional footballer who has played locally and internationally. For the local league, I represented Enugu Rangers, Bayelsa United, Niger Tornadoes and Gombe United,” Agba told NationSports “I had trials l in Cyprus which was unsuccessful.  So after my successful season with Coton Sport of Benin Republic, which we emerged the champions, I got an offer to play in Lebanon which I didn’t hesitate to make the move.”

However, Coton Sports of Benin Republic was not the first club Agba played professionally abroad. He was once in the books of Isa Town FC in the Middle East country of Bahrain before coming back home to Nigeria to play in the NPFL.

“Lebanon is not my first move abroad in my career,” he  continued. “I have played in Bahrain years ago before joining the NPFL.”

“In Bahrain as it was my first time travelling so the experience was a little bit hard for me; new food , new weather, new people made it difficult to adapt so I returned to Nigeria.

“I think the NPFL is one of the biggest league in Africa. To be honest, I really enjoyed my stay in NPFL precisely in Rangers, and Bayelsa United before I was invited to the Olympics team in 2014.”

Agba said that his immediate success in Lebanon is down to the hospitable nature of Lebanese as against other Arab countries

“I started with the club here in July, a week to the close of the transfer window and to God be the glory, I quickly adapted and started playing well and of course the people in Lebanon are good not like other Arab countries.”.

Read Also: Osimhen set to face Torino in Serie A clash

Agba also revealed that Cameroon Legend, Samuel Eto’o, inspired him as a young footballer to become a striker.

“I am a centre forward, and when growing up the likes of Samuel Eto’o, the African legend whom I watch mostly when he was playing. I loved him and he became my role model,” he said.

However, when asked who  his favourite player at the moment, Agba did not hesitate to name the current African player of the year Victor Osimhen, adding that he admires the Napoli star’s never-say-die attitude both in and out of the football pitch.

“For now Victor Osimhen wins my heart. Despite playing in one of the biggest club in the world he still has the determination, fighting spirit to do more. I think he is one of my favourite for now.”.

Outside football, Agba, who cites winning the Benin Republic top division title with Coton Sport as his crowning achievement in the sport, says he loves Christian music and is also a huge fan of the “Buga” crooner, Kizz Daniel.

“I am friendly, love music and like worshipping God.” “Actually I love Christian music , like worship song and praises and my favourite Nigeria musician is Kiss Daniel- the guy dey make Nigeria sweet us like mad.”

Victor Osimhen has returned to full team training with Napoli ahead of a Serie A clash against Torino after injury fears from the win over Juventus.

Napoli reported that the CAF Player of the Year is set to make his 23^rd  appearance of the season against Torino after he was part of team training Wednesday.

Osimhen would therefore be looking to put away his penalty miss against Juventus and return to scoring ways against Torino tonight.

In a related development, Chelsea are reportedly ready to battle Paris Saint-Germain for the signing of Victor Osimhen.

The Napoli striker has been heavily linked with a move away from the Serie A club for the last 12 months Osimhen has scored 13 goals in 22 appearances for Napoli this season, but it’s his form from last year that caught the attention of the biggest clubs in Europe.

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Osimhen scored 31 goals in 39 appearances and helped Napoli win their first Serie A title since 1990. Now the striker is looking increasingly likely to leave the Italian club this summer, with Chelsea interested in bringing Osimhen to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are prioritising a move for a new striker in the summer, and football.london understands that Osimhen is at the top of the club’s list of potential options.

 According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Osimhen is looking to leave Napoli this summer and has several clubs that are interested in signing him. PSG are one, who are likely to be the frontrunners as they search for a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.

Chelsea are also mentioned as showing an interest in signing the Nigeria international. However, it has been stated that the Blues may find it difficult to get a deal over the line with a lack of Champions League football to offer Osimhen.

“PSG was a natural step for him [Osimhen] because he is the natural successor to Kylian Mbappe,” Di Marzio told Goal.pl.