Napoli will be desperate to keep hold of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen this summer after going to extraordinary lengths to sign the striker.
Osimhen, 24, is on the radar of several top clubs in Europe after a sensational season for Napoli.
The Nigeria international has scored 23 goals in just 29 Serie A appearances to help Napoli be crowned champions for the first time in 33 years.
Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are interested in signing Osimhen this summer, while Manchester United have also been strongly linked with the striker.
Liverpool were reportedly interested in signing the Nigerian in 2020 before he joined Napoli in a club-record €70m (£61m) move from Lille.
It has now been revealed that Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli ‘locked’ Osimhen inside a hotel to persuade him to join the Serie A side and turn down a move to Anfield.
Giandomenico Costi, who worked with Giuntoli at Napoli, lifted the lid on Osimhen’s move to Naples.
He told Italian outlet Tuttosport (via Liverpool Echo): “The signing of Osimhen is Giuntoli’s biggest masterpiece.
“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.”
Napoli may find it harder to hold on Osimhen this summer but are expected to put up a fight.
talkSPORT claim the Italian will demand £150m for the striker – a figure which could prove to be too much for United, who may have as little as £100m to spend on new transfers this summer.
