‘Napoli forced to pay more for Victor Osimhen’

The president of Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis says the Italian club was forced to improve their offer for the services of Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen when Arsenal and Manchester United joined the race to sign the forward.

Osimhen became the most expensive player in the club's history when it decided to pay Lille as much as 80 million euros for the striker in the summer transfer window. But RAI journalist, Ciro Venerato said in an interview with Goal that “Napoli was forced to pay the Nigerian striker more.

“The Azzurri had closed the purchase of the attacker in March but Manchester United and Arsenal entered the negotiations.

“The Azzurri club had to review the price of the card and the salary to be paid to the player.”

Venerato then added: “Aurelio De Laurentiis, I say this as a transfer market expert in the face of such scenarios almost always blows up negotiations.

“He can’t stand those who suddenly change the cards on the table. But in the case of Victor Osimhen, he didn’t want to hear reasons and he closed the deal by also agreeing to pay the player more.

“The entrepreneur is certainly not stupid or naïve, he knows he would have bought a great player in perspective.” Osimhen has started justifying his huge fee after scoring six goals in his last ten Serie A appearances.”