Tag: Victor Osimhen

  • Napoli Unveil Romelu Lukaku as New Signing

    Napoli Unveil Romelu Lukaku as New Signing

    By   Milcah    Tanimu

    Serie A side Napoli has officially unveiled Romelu Lukaku as their newest signing, following a period of uncertainty regarding his future.

    Lukaku, who has previously played for Inter Milan and AS Roma, joins Napoli as a preferred choice for new coach Antonio Conte. This move comes as Victor Osimhen has indicated his intention to leave the club.

    The transfer deal is valued at €30 million plus add-ons and is set to last for three years.

    The 31-year-old striker, who last played for Chelsea in 2021, has since been on loan at various clubs. Lukaku is excited to start this new chapter with Napoli, and the club is thrilled to welcome him aboard.

  • Exclusive: Victor Osimhen Must Apologise to Finidi George for His Rants, Says Taiwo Oloyede

    Exclusive: Victor Osimhen Must Apologise to Finidi George for His Rants, Says Taiwo Oloyede

    A legend of the nigeria professional football league (npfl) himself, oloyede played for the super eagles from 1994-1996. During his prime in the npfl, he captained one of the most successful private clubs, the now-defunct stationary stores, and also played for julius berger, bcc lions, 3sc, sunshine stars, union bank, and first bank before his retirement.

    He is currently a coach with the elites, the free age, and also serves as the assistant technical director for the lagos state football association.

    In an exclusive, no-holds-barred interview, oloyede spoke about his transition into retirement, how he stays connected with the football community, his views on the current state of nigerian football, and the recent controversy involving super eagles striker victor osimhen.

    Life after football and staying connected to the football community Oloyede, who played for the super eagles from 1994 to 1996, expressed satisfaction with his football career and described his transition to retirement as smooth.

    “I have no regrets about playing football professionally. I enjoyed it, and I’m enjoying my retirement,” oloyede told sportsboom.Com.

    “Part of enjoying my retirement is using my leisure time to play football. “Playing friendly games at age 60 isn’t for the weak, and definitely not everyone. But I do it regularly. I play for at least 20 minutes in a half of 45 minutes, then take a break. I train with my club every saturday and sunday.”

    Discussing how he stays connected to the football world in nigeria after retirement, the ex-3sc forward spoke glowingly about joining a team of all-stars.

    “Most of us join all stars, as it’s filled with ex-internationals like myself who have played professional football in the past. The majority of the young ones know our names, but not our faces. The club is an avenue for us to reconnect with the younger generation.”

    The current landscape of nigerian football The pacy and tricky winger in his prime held nothing back when describing his thoughts on the state of nigerian football.

    “We need a refurbishment. We need to start again from the grassroots,” oloyede asserted. “Our football is declining, and it is alarming. From the administration to the coaches and the players themselves, it’s a very sad situation for our country, nigeria, to be struggling to qualify for the world cup and the nations cup.”

    “If we had the right administrators and made use of our grassroots talent hunting scheme, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” The former stationary stores captain also called on the country’s football federation to stick to what worked in the past.

    “We must look inward to select players representing us at all levels, not just going abroad to pick already established stars who have no affinity to the badge. At least 40% of our players must come from the home league, those performing at the top level in the league.”

    Finidi george’s resignation and victor osimhen’s outburst Regarding finidi george’s resignation from the super eagles after less than 50 days, oloyede didn’t hold back, expressing strong opinions.

    “The pressure was too much on finidi george, which was caused by a lack of loyalty to him. Most of the boys are not loyal to him,” oloyede stated.

    “Like osimhen talking to finidi george. He must come out and apologise.”

    “What has he done in his life that makes him better than finidi? Is it money? Fame? Has he won the champions league? Has he won the nations cup? Being the highest goal scorer in the qualifiers is not an achievement if it’s not repeated in the tournament proper.”

    “Just because he was the highest goal scorer at his club when they won the scudetto last season doesn’t give him the right to talk to finidi like that. He’s very rude and going public to rant that ‘ogun’ will kill somebody shows he was not brought up well. He also lacks good advisers to put him on track.”

    Future prospects and recommendations

    Looking ahead, oloyede emphasised that he would still recommend an indigenous coach for the super eagles, despite recent issues with finidi george.

    “I would still recommend home-based coaches. The foreign coaches are great, no doubt, but the home-based coaches should be given a fair chance too,” he said.

    “The bane of indigenous nigerian coaches has been the lack of a free hand to take total control of the management of the team.”

    Oloyede lamented the strong influence of player agents and selected officials in the nff as major problems facing indigenous coaches of the super eagles.

    “The agents and selected nff officials are the major culprits. They want their players in the national camp and will go to any lengths to make it happen, often using the national team camps as a platform to secure foreign deals abroad.”

    “But it shouldn’t be like that. The proper route is to market themselves from the home league first with strong performances at their clubs. Then they can dream about a call-up, not the other way around.”

    Advice to the nigeria football federation (nff)

    Oloyede advised the nff to look inward as a solution for the current problems plaguing the federation.

    “They should look inward and find capable coaches, taking them on refresher courses, if need be,” he suggested. “The indigenous coaches chosen should also be given a free hand to do their jobs.”

     

  • Arsenal Ends Pursuit of Victor Osimhen; PSG Revives Interest

    Arsenal Ends Pursuit of Victor Osimhen; PSG Revives Interest

    Premier League club Arsenal has reportedly ceased its efforts to sign Victor Osimhen from Serie A side Napoli. Napoli has set a firm price of €130 million for the Nigerian striker, which matches his release clause.

    Initially, Napoli showed some openness to a deal involving cash plus two Arsenal players, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu. However, Arsenal was unwilling to meet the €130 million asking price and preferred not to exceed their record transfer fee of £105 million, spent on Declan Rice last summer. Due to the inability to reach an agreement, Arsenal has decided to withdraw from the negotiations and focus on other options, as reported by Sky Italia.

    Chelsea, another club previously interested in Osimhen, has also stepped back. Their new manager, Enzo Maresca, reportedly believes Osimhen does not fit into his tactical plans.

    In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has reignited their interest in Osimhen, especially as they search for a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who has recently joined Real Madrid. Mbappe’s departure has freed up €200 million in yearly wages, which PSG is looking to invest in a new striker.

    Victor Osimhen is viewed as a prime candidate to fill Mbappe’s void at PSG. The club’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and his directors are reportedly in direct contact with Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, to negotiate the transfer. Osimhen’s previous successful stint in the French Ligue 1 with Lille and his consistent goal-scoring record make him a top priority for PSG, despite his high price tag.

    According to Il Mattino via TMW, PSG had initially stepped back from pursuing Osimhen but returned to the discussion table due to the lack of better alternatives in the transfer market.

  • Nigeria’s Lack of Finishing Prowess Against Saudi Arabia, Says Peseiro

    Nigeria’s Lack of Finishing Prowess Against Saudi Arabia, Says Peseiro

    By Daniel Edu

    Coach Jose Peseiro of the Super Eagles has attributed the team’s inability to score more than two goals in their recent international friendly against Saudi Arabia in Portugal to a lack of a killer instinct among the strikers. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities and dominating possession against the Green Falcons, the Super Eagles failed to capitalize on their chances.

    The match in Portugal ended in a draw, just as it did in their only previous encounter 13 years ago, which was also a friendly game. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia couldn’t be separated at the end of their second-ever meeting, with the Asian champions scoring a last-minute equalizer from a free-kick that deflected off Calvin Bassey.

    Peseiro expressed his concerns in a post-match interview, saying, “We need to improve our finishing. We played very well in the first and second halves, creating multiple chances, but we lack the killer instinct in the squad. Nevertheless, I’m content with the result.”

    Notably, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze had opportunities in the first half to put the Super Eagles ahead but couldn’t capitalize. The Saudis took a shock lead on the hour mark when a free-kick from Salman Al Faraj was deflected into Nigeria’s net by goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

    Coach Jose Peseiro made substitutions, introducing Terem Moffi and bringing in Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Moses Simon, which improved Nigeria’s performance in attack. Victor Boniface scored Nigeria’s equalizer in the 73rd minute, followed by Iheanacho’s powerful goal eight minutes later.

    The game came shortly after the Super Eagles learned their group for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and adopted “Let’s Do It Again” as their mantra for the tournament. The team will face Mozambique in another friendly match before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe next month.

  • Arsenal Contemplating Gabriel Jesus Swap to Secure Victor Osimhen

    Arsenal Contemplating Gabriel Jesus Swap to Secure Victor Osimhen

    *Arsenal Eyes Victor Osimhen in Potential Swap Deal with Gabriel Jesus
    *Napoli Aware of Arsenal’s Interest in Osimhen, Demand Fee for Gabriel Jesus Swap

    Reports suggest that Arsenal is considering a potential player swap involving 24-year-old Victor Osimhen and Gabriel Jesus next summer.

    According to sources like Fichajes, Arsenal is prepared to use Gabriel Jesus as a bargaining chip to persuade Napoli to part ways with Victor Osimhen in the upcoming transfer window.

    Arsenal, based in North London and competing in the Premier League, views the Nigerian international as the ideal striker for Manager Mikel Arteta’s system and is exploring the possibility of a swap deal.

    Napoli is aware of Arsenal’s intentions and is also scouting for potential replacements should Osimhen decide to leave the Serie A champions.

    While Gabriel Jesus is reportedly among the options, Napoli is expected to demand a transfer fee in addition to the Brazilian forward in any potential agreement.

    Notably, Napoli was not inclined to sell Osimhen during the summer transfer window, despite interest from clubs like Chelsea, PSG, and Al Hilal. The Serie A giants had set a hefty €200 million price tag and even rejected a similar offer from the Saudi Pro League.

  • TikTok Controversy: Victor Osimhen Reiterates Loyalty to Napoli

    TikTok Controversy: Victor Osimhen Reiterates Loyalty to Napoli

    By Daniel Edu

    Napoli’s striker, Victor Osimhen, has taken a firm stance on his commitment to the club in the wake of a controversial TikTok video posted on the club’s page that stirred controversy in recent days.

    Although Napoli swiftly issued a statement characterizing the post as unintentional, it left many of Osimhen’s fans feeling unsatisfied. However, the Nigerian footballer has now sought to calm the waters by reaffirming his dedication to the Serie A champions.

    In a message shared on his Instagram account on Sunday, Osimhen expressed his excitement about his journey in the Italian city of Naples: “Coming to the City of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me. The people of Napoli have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us.”

    Osimhen also took the opportunity to refute certain accusations against the club’s supporters, stating that they were untrue. He expressed gratitude for the support he has received, particularly from fellow Nigerians, regarding this matter.

    This public statement from Osimhen is likely to help quell the concerns of Napoli fans and reinforce his allegiance to the club as they continue their endeavors in the world of football.

  • Napoli Captain Offers Guidance to Victor Osimhen After Clash with Coach

    Napoli Captain Offers Guidance to Victor Osimhen After Clash with Coach

    By Daniel Edu

    Napoli captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, has provided guidance to Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen following an incident where Osimhen expressed his frustration at coach Rudi Garcia for substituting him during Sunday’s goalless draw with Bologna.

    Despite ending Napoli’s three-game Serie A losing streak, the 0-0 draw was seen as a disappointment because it didn’t improve their chances of defending the Scudetto they won last season.

    During the game, there were speculations of in-fighting within the team, particularly after Osimhen was substituted with just four minutes left in the match. Osimhen, clearly unhappy with the decision, voiced his displeasure and flung his jacket into the garbage before walking to the substitute’s bench. This substitution followed Osimhen’s missed penalty earlier in the game.

    Osimhen has since apologized to the coach and the team, but Di Lorenzo stressed the importance of Osimhen’s attitude.

    Di Lorenzo stated, “We manage certain episodes within the locker room. These become more evident when things go wrong. In these moments we don’t need such an attitude; we need to be united and focused on the objective. We will talk to the group and the coach to resolve it. We don’t like to be behind in the championship, even if only at the beginning.”

    Coach Garcia also commented on the situation, saying, “The missed penalty happens to the greatest players in the history of football. Then, I obviously spoke to him about his exit, but what I said to him and the team he remains in the locker room. I may not be happy with their performance, but we are a squad with many players and therefore obviously everyone must be used. He is the penalty taker.”

    He emphasized the importance of using all the players in the squad for the team’s success and acknowledged that players not being happy when substituted is a common occurrence.

    Napoli is currently in 7th place on the league table with 8 points from five games, with two wins, two draws, and one defeat.

  • Napoli Coach Addresses Defensive Concerns with Victor Osimhen

    Napoli Coach Addresses Defensive Concerns with Victor Osimhen

    By Daniel Edu

    Rudi Garcia, the manager of Napoli, has shed light on a concern he has regarding Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen’s defensive contributions. Despite Osimhen’s impressive offensive performance during Napoli’s victory over Frosinone, Garcia has voiced his observation that Osimhen’s defensive efforts have diminished. He openly communicated this issue to Osimhen during the game.

    Napoli, the reigning champions of the Italian Serie A, kicked off the new season with a 3-1 win against newly promoted Frosinone. Osimhen showcased his offensive prowess by scoring two of Napoli’s three goals in the match. However, despite his contributions on the attacking front, Garcia expressed dissatisfaction with Osimhen’s defensive role within the team.

    Garcia shared his perspective with DAZN, acknowledging Osimhen’s offensive excellence but highlighting his disappointment with the striker’s decreased defensive involvement. The manager revealed that he discussed this matter with Osimhen during the halftime break. Garcia pointed out that Osimhen’s defensive efforts were more robust in the past, and he emphasized the importance of a balanced approach.

    Garcia explained, “Offensively, he was excellent, he scored two goals and there is nothing I can tell him. Defensively, I didn’t like him at all and I told him during the break. He used to press more and defend better in the past. We changed this thing in the second half and we played with more quality. I knew he was not fit to play 90 minutes, but we waited for his second goal, he is a leader and this will never change, it’s his strong point.”

    Earlier in the summer, there were speculations surrounding Osimhen’s potential departure from Napoli, despite his instrumental role in the team’s Scudetto win. Clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and even Saudi Arabian clubs reportedly expressed interest in him. However, Osimhen appears to be extending his stay at Napoli for at least another season, as reports suggest he is on the verge of signing a contract extension with the club.

  • “Al-Hilal’s €140m Bid for Osimhen Rejected; Weekly Wage €1m”

    “Al-Hilal’s €140m Bid for Osimhen Rejected; Weekly Wage €1m”

    In the latest football transfer news, Al-Hilal, the Saudi club, has made a significant bid of €140 million for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who currently plays for Napoli. However, Napoli has turned down the offer, as they are seeking a higher selling price of €150 million for the talented player.

    In an attempt to lure Osimhen to their club, Al-Hilal has also proposed an extraordinary weekly wage of €1 million, equivalent to a staggering €52 million annually. The negotiations are ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether Al-Hilal will revise their offer or if Napoli will reconsider their valuation for the player.

    The football world is closely monitoring this transfer saga, as the financial figures involved highlight the fierce competition and the desire of clubs to acquire top talents like Victor Osimhen.

  • Napoli Turns Down Al-Hilal’s €130 Million Offer for Victor Osimhen

    Napoli Turns Down Al-Hilal’s €130 Million Offer for Victor Osimhen

    By Daniel Edu

    Saudi Pro League club, Al-Hilal, made an ambitious bid of €130 million to acquire Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from Italian Serie A champions, Napoli. However, Napoli swiftly rejected the offer, indicating their intention to keep the 24-year-old forward and value him at no less than €200 million.

    Reports suggest that Al-Hilal, backed by the multi-billion-dollar royal wealth fund PIF, sought to convince Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to sell Osimhen to them after failing to secure the services of Paris Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.

    Osimhen’s outstanding performances played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumphant Scudetto-winning campaign last season. With 26 goals and five assists in 32 games, the Nigerian striker helped the Italian side secure the Serie A title for the first time in over three decades during the 2022-2023 season.

    His exceptional form earned him the prestigious Golden Boot title and the best striker of the Season award, making him the first African player in Serie A history to achieve such an honor.

    Despite Al-Hilal’s substantial offer, Napoli remains firm in their desire to retain Osimhen and is instead focusing on negotiating a new, long-term contract with him to secure his future at the club. Napoli values the player at over €200 million, reflecting his importance to the team and his potential in the transfer market.

    The Saudi Pro League has witnessed a significant influx of European players this summer, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo making a move to Al Nassr in December 2022, which may have motivated other elite players to join the league as well.