Julius OkorieSuper Eagles and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is on the verge of making a huge decision about his soccer career. In fact that will be in a matter of hours, minutes or even seconds.
The former Lille of France forward has been the biggest name in the transfer market for over six months with so many clubs ranging from Paris Saint-Germain who had wanted to have him as replacement for France international Kyrian Mbappe, who has since left for Real Madrid, to Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and even Lille who considered his comeback.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSaudi Arabia side Al Ahli joined the league of Osimhen’s suitors mid-way and were quick to re-shape the equation.
In the course of the race for the Nigeria international, who scored 65 goals in 108 appearances for Napoli, many of the suitors have like Manchester United, Arsenal and PSG taken the back seat leaving Chelsea and Al-Ahli to slug it out.
To further make Osimhen’s exit from Napoli almost inevitable, the Serie A side few days back sealed a £30 million deal with Belgian international, Romelu Lukaku, from Chelsea to if you like serve as alternative to want away Osimhen while creating space for Osimhen at the Stamford Bridge even though Lukaku was mostly on loan from Chelsea to Inter Milan and Roma respectively before this permanent deal that finally sealed his exit from Chelsea.
Saudi pro league side Al-Ahli who finished 3rd on the log last season are desirous of pushing forward and winning the 2024/2025 season if possible and believer that an Osimhen with his super form for Napoli will be a good bet to challenge table toppers Al-Hilal and second placed Al-Nassr who parade multiple award winning super star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Ahli are ready to part with €80 Million and the offer is indeed too good to ignore.
However, Osimhen for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United or PSG would have been better hit for the 25-year -old African footballer of the year who many say is in a position to compete in the UEFA Champions League, compete among players eyeing the prestigious Ballon d Or among other laurels insisting that the possibility of achieving such lies in remaining in Europe for now where the competition is stiff and stake higher.
Granted that the Saudi league has become a converging point for top players including five time Ballon d Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kareem Benzema, Sadio Mane, Neymar, Roberto Fermino, Riyad Mahrez among others, many of these stars have won practically everything winnable and may not be in contention for the Ballon d’0r where Osimhen made history by becoming the first Nigerian to make the top 10, finishing 8th in the 2023 edition above Bernado Silva and Luka Modric in the 9th and 10th positions respectively.
Many believe that if Osimhen, who at the national level has scored 21 goals for the Super Eagles in 35 appearances were to head for the Stamford Bridge, he stands a better chance of facing tougher challenge with equally hungry young stars like him and such competition will ginger him to greater heights and also remove the feeling of ‘I have arrived” which may force a decline in form and desire.
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Whether to move to Chelsea or to Saudi has become the talking point among analysts and fans alike but the final decision rests with Osimhen who is currently under pressure to make the decision.
Some fans have reacted to this especially as to whether Osimhen can still win the Ballon d Or if he heads to Saudi Arabia. Some of the reactions are worthy of note:
The David Peters@David___Peters “And he will win it when he signs for ChelseaFC. He is still 25. He should spend 5 years now with ChelseaFC, then move for big money later. That’s how it’s done…build a legacy first, then you can gather for retirement later”
This certainly is well captured, five years of regular play and participation in all competitions in Europe for the next five years will take Osimhen to 30.
This five years to 30 is crucial to his career and a lot can be achieved all things being equal and hopefully injury stays far away from him.
That is not to say that he will be out of form at 30 after all Ronaldo at 39 and Lionel Messi at 37 are still delivering for their clubs and nation but at least not under pressure.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
