He was one of the big summer soap operas announced for several months but the big European teams, in particular Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, rubbed shoulders with the rock Aurelio De Laurentiis, still as tough and severe in negotiations. After an extraordinary season marked by the first Scudetto won by Napoli in 33 years, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen (24) is on everyone’s lips in this summer transfer window, but the Italian club remains firm: it’s time for negotiations for a contract extension – and absolutely not to a departure from Campania. If the discussions are well advanced, nothing has yet been completed for a new lease between the Neapolitan management and the camp of the former LOSC player.
Powered by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund Public Invest Fund (PIF), which has taken control of four of the league’s biggest clubs (Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli), the Saudi Pro League is the one of the attractions of the transfer market in recent months. If already high-sounding names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly or N’Golo Kanté have already joined the Saudi championship, some clubs continue to push hard to attract great players. And the Saudi sirens are heard loudly across Europe to the foot of Vesuvius.
The entourage not insensitive
The Italian media are unanimous on this Monday morning: Saudi Arabia wants to complete Victor Osimhen’s file, although the maneuver is very complicated to date. According to daily information La Repubblica, the Al Hilal club are ready to send an offer of 140 million to Napoli to sign the Nigerian international. A salary of 45 million per season would await the 24-year-old player. On the side of Corriere della Sera, there is talk of an offer of 120 million from Al-Hilal to complete the signing. Finally, the local newspaper ofIl Mattino mentions a 150 million contract over 5 years. The Neapolitan newspaper specifies that his entourage would push for a departure, at a time when Napoli offers him a net salary of 10 million euros. And according to what Soccernet.nga Nigerian news site close to the Osimhen clan, there is already an agreement between Napoli number 9 and the Saudi club for 40 million euros net per season.
In negotiations with Napoli for the extension, Osimhen’s agent would even push to include a release clause valid for Saudi Arabia in 2024, if possible lower than 150 million euros. Even in the event of a definitive agreement from the player, it will take the right offer to crack Aurelio De Laurentiis, the one who will economically convince the president of Napoli. In previous media outings, the 74-year-old manager appeared to have double-barreled Osimhen’s future a month ago when he publicly announced that the Neapolitan club would not listen to demands for less than 200 million euros. euros. A situation which is further complicated because the moment is not favorable for the sale of a framework like Osimhen, because finding a replacement by the end of August, close to the start of the championship, is an impossible mission.
