Osimhen: Why I rejected Saudi’s €200m mega offer

Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, has admitted that the mega offer from the Saudi Arabia would have changed his life.

He, however, revealed that he prioritised his career over money.

Saudi side, Al-Hilal, had in the summer offered €200m to Napoli to sign Osimhen, but the club president Aurelio De Laurentiis turned down the offer.

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker was billed to earn £1 million per week in wage if the Saudi offer scaled through.

Osimhen, who scored 26 goals and provided five assists in 32 league games last season, is one of the most dangerous centre-forwards in Europe. This made the Nigerian striker to attract interests from biggest clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea.

Shedding light on his decision in an interview with John Obi Mikel on the ‘Obi One Podcast’ via Calciomercato.com on Monday, Osimhen said: “When the offer came from Saudi Arabia, a huge offer, it was hard to refuse.”

The player added the Saudi club, Al-Hilal, never gave up, saying “The more I said no, the more they increased the financial offer.”

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Osimhen said: “What was said is true. I have to be honest, I never thought about leaving last summer because Napoli wanted to keep me, but when the offer came from Saudi Arabia, a huge offer, it was hard to refuse. I spoke to Napoli and decided to stay.

“It was crazy. The more I said no, the more they increased the financial offer. It would have changed my life, they never gave up. But I said, no guys, I’m staying.”

On the possibility of him still playing in Europe, he said: “Of course. I had talks in August, it was a huge decision for me to make. I spoke to Napoli, and we decided together to refuse. I didn’t want people to think I wanted to leave. It was a positive decision for my career. As much as you play football for money, there is also so much more to it.”

On whether he has a favourite Premier League club, the striker said: “I don’t have a favourite Premier League club, but I have two shirts, Chelsea and Manchester United. Many of my friends are Chelsea fans, a few Man United. The Premier League is the most popular league for any African player, it’s a great league.”

“Next season I know you will come to Chelsea man! I tell you, I will be the agent who will broker that deal. I will make sure it happens. We are desperate for someone like you since Drogba left the club,” Mikel had told Osimhen.

The Star