Sports
Why Chelsea Failed To Sign Victor Osimhen – Mikel Obi
According to reports, the 25-year-old striker, who had been linked with Chelsea as well as clubs in France and Saudi Arabia, was reportedly unhappy with his situation at Napoli and had submitted a transfer request.
This comes just a year after Osimhen played a pivotal role in helping Napoli secure their first league title in 33 years during the 2022-23 season, where he also finished as Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals.
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Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel confirmed that the reigning African Footballer of the Year was “very, very close” to joining Chelsea this summer and explained why the transfer ultimately collapsed. The Chelsea legend also dismissed claims that Osimhen’s move fell apart due to greed, emphasizing that other factors were at play.
Mikel said: “I hear a lot of people saying this and saying that about Victor and how greedy he is, blah, blah, blah. ‘Take a pay cut and come to Chelsea’ blah, blah, blah, stuff like that.
“I know the kid. I know the boy. I just want to say that that is absolutely not true. Victor is not a greedy boy. He’s not a greedy guy; he only wants to get what he deserves and that’s not a problem.”
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During the transfer window, it was reported that Osimhen sought a weekly salary of around £500,000, an extraordinary amount. Although Chelsea was interested in acquiring a striker, they could not meet these demands. Mikel strongly refuted these claims.
“No, he wasn’t asking for all this b******t,” Mikel asserted. “I know what happened; I was in the midst of everything. So I can tell everybody that is definitely not true.
“He just wants to play football and get what he deserves and that’s not a problem. A player knowing what he’s worth and demanding to be paid what he’s worth, that’s not a problem.
“Our negotiations were very, very close, but there were just some minor issues and small problems we couldn’t overcome. I know what the club offered him, and we had to reach a compromise. There were some small issues with paperwork, medicals, and other details that prevented us from finalizing the deal.”
Meanwhile, Osimhen has since moved from Napoli to Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray on a season-long loan. As part of the deal, he agreed to a new £75 million release clause with Napoli, along with an option to exit Galatasaray in January if a major club expresses interest in signing him.
The Nigerian striker made a strong return to competitive football on Saturday, scoring a goal that contributed to the Super Eagles’ 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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