Nigerian and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen was a hot topic during the European transfer window, with the African footballer of the year wanting a move away from Napoli but not having enough suitors.
On deadline day, Osimhen looked set to join Al Ahli but a limited slot for foreign players meant the Saudi club could sign only one of Osimhen or Ivan Toney, who was linked to the club as well.
Osimhen was the protagonist when Napoli won their first Serie A crown after three decades of attempting the feat in the 2022-23 season.
The Nigerian forward shouldered the burden of the team and played a starring role by scoring 26 league goals; the most of any African in the Italian top flight.
He also helped the Super Eagles to a runners-up finish at the 2023 AFCON and was named as the 2023 African best player, which further emphasized his worth.
Two seasons ago, Victor Osimhen was a sure bet to lead the line at almost every elite European club, but how come interest has cooled in the Nigerian 18 months down the line ?
UniversSports looks at some major reasons.
Form
Addressing on-field issues is first and foremost. The forward has not scored since May 26. Osimhen has seen a drastic decline in his goal tally. Perhaps, the title-winning syndrome has caught up with him, or he may still be living in the moment. Osimhen is not as sharp and deadly of a finisher as he was two seasons ago, which wards off potential suitors. The Nigerian finished with 15 league goals last term and is yet to feature in the 2024-25 season.
Wages
Wages and form, just like complimentary goods in economics, go hand-in-hand. Value for money is essential in football. Landing Osimhen would require at least €70m, which is a hefty sum. To top it off, his wage demands are quite astounding. As per his failed move to Chelsea, the forward was demanding a weekly salary of around £300,000, which deters clubs from going neck-and-neck for his signature, considering goal scoring is not a surety, neither is the extent of his adaptation period in a new environment known.
Osimhen signed a new contract with Napoli in December 2023, which sees him earn €10m per season. His entourage made it clear he was not going to accept anything less than that, with Chelsea offering him €4m in fixed payment + €4m in performance related bonuses.
Technical abilities
His 1.85m frame gives him a different skill set. Osimhen plays to his strength, of which attacking aerial balls is key. Osimhen thrives on crosses and set pieces. He can equally be involved in foot races with defenders. But in an evolving football system, where strikers are expected to offer more than that, his style and quality does not seem appealing to numerous sides.
His technical abilities are seen as limited by clubs.
Injury
The 25-year-old forward’s time on the sidelines is an issue of concern. He missed 12 games last season, making it difficult for clubs to know the version of Osimhen they purchase. The Nigerian has missed 67 games due to injury since joining Napoli in 2020.
During the 2023-24 season, Osimhen missed 15 games through injury, which was 4 more than he missed in Napoli’s title winning campaign in the 2022-23 season.
The 24 games he missed in his debut season for Napoli remains the highest since he moved to Naples, as he sat out of 17 games in the 2021-22 season.
Meanwhile Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli looks broken, with the player expected to be frozen out by manager Antonio Conte until the end of the season.
However, with the Saudi Pro League’s transfer window still opened until September 2, and Al Ahli offering Oshimen a 4-year contract worth around €120m before signing Ivan Toney, only the Middle East looks a feasible destination for the striker due to his wage demands.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo| univers.ug.edu.gh
