Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, said accepting a deal from Saudi Arabia club, Al-Hilal ‘would’ve changed his life.’
The talented player who achieved massive feats in the 2022-2023 season at Sie A club, Napoli also spoke further about the attractive offer, stressing that he never thought about leaving last summer because Napoli wanted to keep him.
Speaking to former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel on the ‘Obi One Podcast’ via Calciomercato.com, the talented striker who scored 26 goals and provided five assists across 32 league games in the Serie shared his thoughts on the Premier League, the clubs he likes to join and the reasons he rejected the offer from Saudi Arabia.
Osinhem who is currently the eighth best player in the world has been the center of attraction from big clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea.
Going memory lane, Mikel had first told Osimhen to join Chelsea next summer, but the 24-year-old responded that he has two clubs he considers moving to in the EPL.
Mikel Said, “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.”
On his response about the Premier League club he is interested in, Osimhen 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.”
In the summer, Saudi club, Al-Hilal offered a mouth watering offer of €200m to Napoli, but president Aurelio De Laurentiis rejected the offer. He said they were not ready to release Osimhen yet.
In his words, “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.”
Osimhen admitted the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia ‘would’ve changed his life’ as he reflected on Al-Hilal’s mega-offer in the summer saying, “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.
