Italian footballer pundit Umberto Chiariello has sensationally claimed that Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis turned down a mega offer from Arsenal for his prized jewel Victor Osimhen.
In truth, Osimhen was on the shortlist of strikers being targeted by the Gunners in the summer but their priority signing was Gabriel Jesus and they were able to get the deal over the line without much difficulty.
Chiariello claims that Arsenal firmed up their interest in the Nigeria international by making a bid of 80 million euros (approximately N35 billion in Nigerian currency) – around the same fee Napoli paid Lille for his services if performance-related variables are included in the total package.
Despite being linked with a move to the Premier League, Osimhen stayed back in Italy and he’s enjoying probably his best spell as a Napoli player with eight goals in ten matches.
“Luciano Spalletti’s team, in the best of predictions, was given fifth, while I saw it ready to bite the Milanese. It is a team that he re-founded:” Chiariello was quoted as saying by Area Napoli.
“Aurelio De Laurentiis went ahead with his vision : lower salaries, the confirmation of Victor Osimhen after Arsenal ‘s offer of 80 million and the bet on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia , who played in Serie C, Batumi, a championship, the Georgian one, which is like Serie C. Georgia herself, among the national teams, is in Serie C. “
Osimhen could further put himself in the shop window with another impressive performance when Napoli takes on Premier League giants Liverpool in a Champions League clash at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Napoli are aware that several high-profile clubs are interested in the Nigerian and have reportedly placed a price tag of more than 100m euros on his head.
