After months of speculations on the probability of strike sensation, Victor Osimhen, moving to another club in the coming football season, an end has come to all the rumours. There were speculations on interests by Manchester United, Chelsea and lately, PSG.
But the new Napoli manager Rudi Garcia has confirmed that Victor Osimhen wants to stay at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer.
The Nigerian in-form striker who joined the Italian club from Lille three years ago, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United throughout this summer’s transfer window.
The Reds are determined to land a new striker and they identified Osimhen as their tagget back in November last year.
The 24-year-old, who has also been linked with the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after a stellar 2022/23 campaign. Helping Napoli scoop their first Serie A title in more than 30 years, he plundered 31 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions, as well as grabbing five assists.
Despite their interest in Osimhen, United have identified fellow Serie A star RasmusHojlund as their primary striker target. Football director John Murtough has held talks with Atalanta about the possibility of getting a deal over the line.
Hojlund is considered an attainable target for United this summer, whereas the prospect of taking Osimhen from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona looks increasingly difficult and expensive. Nevertheless, Napoli boss Garcia, who took over from Luciano Spalletti last month, has said that the striker is still hungry to achieve more success in Italy.
“Of course I have spoken to him,” Garcia told reporters.
“I can assure you that he wants to stay, he is happy to be with us and still wants to do great things.”
The Nigeria international, who will turn 25 at the end of December, has gone from strength to strength since joining Napoli in July 2020. He has netted 59 goals and registered 14 assists in 101 games for the club.
Last week, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis once again reiterated his stance on Osimhen, insisting that he will stay at the club this summer.
“We will see Victor Osimhen wearing our shirt next season, that’s for sure,” he said. “Then if a more than indecent proposal arrives, we will move on and find another top talent as we did with [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen.
