‘Napoli locked up Osimhen to prevent Liverpool signing him’

In what has been described as Napoli’s Director of Football, Cristiano Giuntoli’s “biggest masterpiece”, Giandomenico Costi, a former collaborator of Giuntoli, has revealed how the club locked up Victor Osimhen in a hotel for three days before convincing the Nigerian to sign for the club.

Costi, in an interview with Tuttosport, said the Italian club were aware of interest from English Premier League giants, Liverpool, and had to apply unconventional means to persuade the Nigeria international to reject the English club.

After a stellar performance with Lille in the French League, where he spent only a season and scored 18 goals plus six assists in 38 games, the 24-year-old signed a five-year contract with an option of a year with Napoli, in a deal worth €70m, which could rise to €80m after a number of performance-related add-ons.

Before joining Napoli, Osimhen was courted by some top European clubs and Costi in the interview revealed that Liverpool were among those interested, adding that Giuntoli engaged in extensive discussions with Osimhen, utilising the three-day hotel stay to convince the talented forward to choose Napoli.

“The signing of Osimhen is Giuntoli’s biggest masterpiece,” Costi told Tuttosport, as per Football Italia.

“He (Osimhen) was locked in a hotel for three days. Giuntoli knew Liverpool were interested, and Jurgen Klopp had made his move, but Cristiano spoke to Osimhen in the hotel for three days until he convinced him to accept Napoli.

“He was full of energy. Giuntoli is a director who would call you 100 times a day.

“He knew Victor very well; he had even followed him at Charleroi.”

Giuntoli’s approach has, however, paid off as the Nigerian striker led the club to their first Serie A title in 33 years with three games to the end of the season.

The striker has scored 23 goals in 29 appearances and is currently on course to win the Golden Boot award in Italy.