Football
Napoli reject €130m bid for Osimhen
Series A champions Napoli have rejected a lucrative €130 million bid from Al-Hilal for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
The Saudis, backed by the royal wealth fund PIF, made a hefty offer to Napoli in an attempt to capture the services of the Nigerian forward.
Their initial interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe was met with a frigid response, prompting them to look into alternative options.
Osimhen, who was instrumental in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning season last season, has piqued the interest of a number of clubs.
The Italian team won the Serie A title for the first time in over three decades, thanks in large part to Osimhen’s outstanding efforts.
According to Il Mattino via TMW, Al-Hilal approached De Laurentiis with a proposal of €130 million for the Nigerian international.
Napoli, on the other hand, quickly rebuffed the offer, stating their unwillingness to split ways with the excellent striker during the summer transfer window. Instead, Napoli is concentrating on securing Osimhen’s future at the club through the negotiation of a new long-term contract. They estimate the player’s worth at around €200 million.
Last season, the 26-year-old attacker finished as the league’s top scorer with an astonishing 26 goals in only 32 games. His outstanding performance earned him the famous Golden Boot award, making him the league’s first African player to do so.
The Saudi Pro League has experienced a major influx of European players this summer, all following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to the league in December 2022.
