Victor Osimhen is few details away from becoming the most expensive African player with Lille agreeing a transfer fee of €80 million with Napoli for his services, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
The agreement was reached yesterday night after a week long discussion between Lille and Napoli with Osimhen agreeing to join the Serie A side despite a late bid from Liverpool.
Osimhen was impressed with the way he was treated by coach of Napoli Gennaro Gattuso during his visit to Naples last week and that made him to accept a move to the team this summer, a year after joining Lille.
His deal will see Lille received €40 million as part payment now and the rest of the agreed sum will be paid over the next two years , Owngoalnigeria.com gathered from sources close to the parties involved in the deal.
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It means his transfer fee is now more than that of Nicolas Pepe who moved from same Lille to Arsenal for £72 million last summer. Osimhen’s deal in pounds is around £75 million making him the most expensive African player.
President of Lille Gerrard Lopez hint at the deal happening while speaking on the future of Osimhen to the media in France after the return of the Nigerian from Naples , where he had a tour of the club’s facility.
” We have received several offers for our player, we exchanged opinions and I told him the most suitable club for him at this stage of his career”, he said.
” We get along really well with Osimhen and I recommend the club to him base on his style of play, the coach he would work with and career progression he wants for himself”.
He went a step further by suggesting why Gennaro Gattuso is best for the Nigerian to have as a coach at this stage of his career ” Gattuso’s team is just below Juventus or Barcelona. I think they are on same level as Atletico Madrid. If Osimhen were to go to Napoli he will become their superstar. He has the strength to perform under pressure and I believe that having a city like Naples on your feet must be something unique in the life of a footballer”, he concluded.
Daniel Martins
