Former Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has revealed that he personally advised Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli.

The 27-year-old striker led Napoli to their historic Serie A title in the 2022/23 season but was faced with a series of controversial sagas in the following season.

In a clip that has gone viral on social media on the debate over Osimhen’s long-term future away from Naples, Onazi, who had a stint in Italy, disclosed that he advised his countryman to leave Napoli immediately after Napoli won the Serie A.

Onazi Explains Why He Told Victor Osimhen to Leave Napoli

The former Lazio midfielder recounted a private meeting with Osimhen shortly after Napoli’s Scudetto triumph—their first league title in over 30 years since the Diego Maradona era.

According to Onazi, Osimhen visited his home following the celebrations, where they spoke at length about football and life before he offered his advice.

“When Victor won the Italian title, best player of Serie A and all that, he came to my house,” Onazi said. “I told him, ‘You’ve achieved the highest at Napoli. Because of you, they won the title. Move, leave Napoli.’”

Onazi warned Osimhen about the short memories of football fans and suggested that a single poor season could erase past achievements.

“If things don’t go well the next season, they will behave like you never won anything for the club. That’s how football is—fans forget your good deeds quickly,” he added.

Watch Onazi's comment on Victor Osimhen here:

Ogenyi Onazi reveals he advised Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli after winning the title with them. pic.twitter.com/TolQhgiF6K

— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) January 24, 2026

Osimhen’s Napoli Fallout and Current Galatasaray Form

Recall that in February 2025, Onazi urged both Osimhen and Ademola Lookman to leave their Italian clubs, citing Napoli’s handling of Osimhen.

By June 2025, while Osimhen was already on loan at Galatasaray, Onazi reiterated that he did not want the forward to return to Napoli, recommending a move to another top European side instead.

Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 for a club-record fee of €70 million and enjoyed his most successful campaign in 2022/23, scoring 26 league goals to win the Serie A Golden Boot and African Footballer of the Year award.

However, relations between player and club deteriorated after a controversial social media incident involving Napoli’s official account, followed by prolonged contract and transfer disputes.

Although Osimhen signed a contract extension until 2026, failed transfer negotiations with clubs such as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain saw him loaned to Galatasaray in September 2024.

The Super Eagles talisman has continued his fine form in Turkey, scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances for Galatasaray this season.