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Tag: Victor Osimhen

  • TRANSFER NEWS: PSG eye Osimhen, as Brighton demands player-plus-cash for Caicedo

    TRANSFER NEWS: PSG eye Osimhen, as Brighton demands player-plus-cash for Caicedo

    • Chelsea are considering signing Mike Maignan as their new goalkeeper, but AC Milan is reluctant to sell the French international. (Source: L’Equipe)
    • Paris Saint-Germain is intensifying their efforts to secure Victor Osimhen, seen as the ideal partner for Kylian Mbappe in their frontline. (Source: Le Parisien)
    • Brighton is demanding £70m and Levi Colwill from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo, but the Blues consider Colwill untouchable. (Source: The Telegraph)
    • Manchester United has expressed interest in signing defender Kim Min-jae, although their priority remains finding a striker. (Source: Sky Sports)

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    • If Arsenal pursue Declan Rice, West Ham may request Emile Smith Rowe as part of the deal. (Source: The Sun)
    • Arsenal is monitoring Leicester full-back Timothy Castagne due to concerns about Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury history. (Source: Het Belang van Limburg)
    • Bayern Munich could target Sofyan Amrabat if they miss out on signing Rice. (Source: Sky Sports)
    • Manchester City is open to letting Aymeric Laporte leave and is in talks to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol. (Source: Football Insider)

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    • Al Ahli is willing to offer Riyad Mahrez a £40m contract to lure him away from Manchester City. (Source: The Mirror)
    • Real Madrid is planning to bring in Getafe goalkeeper David Soria as Thibaut Courtois’ backup. (Source: Mundo Deportivo)
    • Juventus does not intend to exercise their €7m option to permanently sign Arkadiusz Milik from Marseille but is negotiating for a lower fee. Lazio is also interested. (Source: Sky Sports)
    • Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has no intention of selling Victor Lindelof, who attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt after impressing during Manchester United’s injury crisis. (Source: BILD)
    • West Ham is eyeing a move for Almeria striker El Bilal Toure, valued at £34m by the La Liga club. Everton, Wolves, and Burnley are also interested. (Source: Football Insider)
    • Roma may consider selling defender Roger Ibanez, rated at €40m, with Tottenham leading the race among Premier League clubs for his signature. (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport)

    June 10, 2023
  • Madrid eye Kane, Osimhen, Havertz as possible replacements for Benzema

    Madrid eye Kane, Osimhen, Havertz as possible replacements for Benzema

    Real Madrid has identified Harry Kane as their top choice for filling the void left by the departure of Karim Benzema.

    29-year-old Kane, with one year remaining on his Tottenham contract, is yet to make a decision about his future. The Spanish giants are admirers of the English striker and are hopeful that the departure of high-earning players, including Benzema, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, and Mariano Diaz, will free up funds to facilitate the move.

    While Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, Chelsea’s Kai Havertz, and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic are also on Real Madrid’s target list, they are particularly keen on securing Kane’s services. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is determined to keep Kane at the club and is reportedly seeking a transfer fee exceeding £100 million, a figure that Real Madrid may be hesitant to meet.

    Tottenham Brighton

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    Kane has been a prolific scorer for Tottenham, netting 280 goals in 435 appearances and nearing Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260 goals. Despite his previous attempts to secure a move to Manchester City being unsuccessful, Kane’s future at Tottenham remains uncertain as the club failed to qualify for the Champions League and the forward is yet to win a major trophy. Real Madrid hopes their pursuit of major honors will entice Kane to consider a move to Spain.

    In addition to their pursuit of Kane, Real Madrid is also engaged in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund for England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has expressed his desire to join the Spanish club.

    Meanwhile, Tottenham is still in search of a manager following an underwhelming season under interim boss Ryan Mason, with talks scheduled to take place with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou in the coming days.

    Karim Benzema, the Ballon d’Or-winning striker who joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2009, departs the club on a free transfer after a successful tenure that included five Champions League triumphs and four La Liga titles.

    June 5, 2023
  • SERIE A: ‘Daylight robbery’, Nigerians lament as Osimhen loses player of the season award

    SERIE A: ‘Daylight robbery’, Nigerians lament as Osimhen loses player of the season award

    Fans of Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, have taken to social media platforms to express their displeasure after the Nigerian footballer lost the Italian Player of the Season award to his Georgian teammate, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

    The Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC), today announced  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the best player of the 2022/2023 season which saw Napoli lifting the Italian Serie A for the first time since the 1989-90 season.

    The decision to give the Italian league’s most decorated award to Kvaratskhelia however did not sit well with some Nigerians who believe Osimhen should have been given the award for his starling performance which saw him recording 25 goals and 4 assists as against 12 goals and 10 assists recorded by Kvaratskhelia in the league this season.

    Expressing his dissatisfaction on Twitter, a popular media influencer @Mbahdey for you wrote, ” Victor Osimhen Robbed of Serie A  Player of the Season”

    Supporting his position, another Twitter user, @_AsiwajuLerry rubbished the Italian league, and Twitter “Victor Osimhen has been robbed of the Serie A player of the season. This Italian league smh!”

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    He continued, “I am not going to shout racism but there’s no single player who deserves the Serie A MVP Award over Victor Osimhen. Why? Cos he’s the only player who dominated the league from the start to the end. Know this and know peace.”

    Another user, @Valklng wrote, “Victor Osimhen has been robbed of the Serie A player of the season 💔.. This Italian league is the biggest joke of them all.

    @Lanresms tweeted, “This is daylight robbery. Osimhen needs to get out of this league ASAP. Freaking racist league. There is no way this guy should have won the MVP over Osimhen.”

    Also commenting on the development, @SanniUthman7 tweeted, “Even Kvaratskhelia himself knows Osimhen carried the team through their toughest spell of the season. We saw him against Ac Milan in the UCL without Osimhen. And he🇳🇬 certainly wasn’t outshined by the Georgian when it wasn’t so tough so how do they judge this MVP. ROBBED ❌❌❌“

    Osimhen however won Serie A’s forward of the season award after scoring 25 goals and recording 4 assists in 31 appearances.

    June 2, 2023
  • ‘First name on my list’, Berbatov urges Manchester United to sign Victor Osimhen

    ‘First name on my list’, Berbatov urges Manchester United to sign Victor Osimhen

    Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has caught the attention of former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who believes he is the ideal candidate to become the club’s next primary striker.

    United are attempting to seal a place in the Premier League’s top four ahead of the likes of Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion, and need to win their final three games to ensure they finish ahead of both and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

    Erik ten Hag’s United have struggled to find the net consistently throughout the season. They have grappled with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo since his departure in November, as well as Anthony Martial’s fitness and injury woes, which have limited his playing time. Although Wout Weghorst was brought in on loan in January, his contributions have been modest, with just two goals to his name since joining the team.

    It is worth noting that Weghorst’s goals have not been in the league, exacerbating United’s scoring challenges. In fact, the team has managed to net a mere 51 goals in 35 games, a considerably lower tally compared to their counterparts.

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    Berbatov, speaking in an interview, emphasized the significance of United making the right choice for their next acquisition in the central striker position. He firmly places Nigerian talent Osimhen at the top of his list, favoring him over Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

    “Someone who can bring goals [is what United need]. Obviously, the job of the striker nowadays has changed a little bit, but the main thing remains – strikers need to score goals,” Berbatov said.

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    “[Wout] Weghorst, he’s doing fantastic in the defensive type of work, running his socks off, chasing people, making tackles inside the box, defending from the front. But he doesn’t score goals and people are judging him on that.

    “When United buy a striker, he needs to be someone that you say ‘this is the guy who is going to give you 20-plus goals’.

    “I think that striker can be Victor Osimhen from Napoli. I think he’s fantastic – from the way he’s scoring, to how he’s scoring and the speed he has. If United are going for striking options, the first name on my list will be Osimhen.”

    According to reports, Osimhen and Kane feature on a shortlist of United’s primary options for the summer, though the club are still weighing up whether to sign a cheaper, alternative option with potential to develop into the finished product under Ten Hag’s coaching.

    Decisions have not yet been made as United wait to confirm their position in the top four, while the club’s ownership issues are yet to be resolved.

    However, Berbatov, who himself moved from Tottenham to Old Trafford in 2008 after United spent weeks negotiating with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, has doubts about how easy a deal signing Kane will be for United, while he has also questioned whether Kane will want to leave his boyhood club anyway.

    “In the summer, we’re probably going to be witnessing again that type of saga – Kane going somewhere? A TV soap opera,” he added.

    May 17, 2023
  • Napoli turn to Lille again for Osimhen replacement

    Napoli turn to Lille again for Osimhen replacement

    Napoli is eyeing a potential move for Lille striker Jonathan David as they consider the departure of Victor Osimhen this summer.

    According to Il Mattino, Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, is open to striking another deal with Lille for a striker if Osimhen leaves and a potential suitor meets Napoli’s €160 million valuation.

    De Laurentiis has a keen interest in signing players from Asia and the Americas, making David an attractive prospect, although discussions are still in the early stages.

    He recently said in an interview, “I’d like to have an American, because in America, even if the championship isn’t worth much, there are great players who shine in the national team. And then a Japanese, while already having a Korean, since there’s a great development of our football in the East and there are new entries to consider. But I wouldn’t want to send any of our players away.”

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    While De Laurentiis aims to hold onto players like Osimhen and Kim Min-Jae during the transfer window, he acknowledges the allure of the Premier League and the challenges it presents.

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    In addition to David, Atalanta’s Rasmus Højlund and Christopher Nkunku, who appears to be nearing a move to Chelsea, are also on Napoli’s radar.

    Regarding other positions that need attention, Napoli has expressed interest in Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente as a potential replacement for the outgoing Hirving Lozano. Two players from Eintracht Frankfurt, Daichi Kamada, and Jesper Lindstrøm, have caught Napoli’s attention as well.

    Furthermore, Napoli has shown interest in Udinese’s Lazar Samardžić and Simone Pafundi, a promising youngster from Friuli who will represent Italy at the Under-20 World Cup.

    May 12, 2023
  • George Weah hails Osimhen over Serie A win with Napoli

    George Weah hails Osimhen over Serie A win with Napoli

    Liberia’s President George Weah has joined the growing number of well-wishers in congratulating Super Eagles striker Victor Osimehn for his remarkable achievements this season with Serie A champions Napoli.

    Osimhen played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumph, ending their 33-year wait for the Serie A title, and along the way, he either matched, broke, or established new records in what has been an outstanding season.

    On Sunday, Osimhen reached a significant milestone in his football career by scoring his 47th goal in the Italian Serie A league, making him the highest-scoring African player in the history of the competition.

    He surpassed the previous record held by George Weah, the only African player to have been crowned World Footballer of the Year.

    President Weah took to his Facebook page on Tuesday to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Osimhen and lauded him for his determination, hard work, and commitment. He expressed his immense pride in Osimhen’s accomplishments and commended the young Nigerian for paying tribute to him upon reaching this remarkable milestone.

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    “I am very glad that you have accomplished a major milestone in your football career, after scoring your 47th goal in the Italian Serie A league,” Mr Weah wrote in his congratulatory message.

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    “I am so proud of your exploits and congratulate you on this remarkable achievement, which is a result of your hard work, dedication and tenacity,” he added.

    However, Mr Weah did not stop there; he encouraged Osimhen to strive for even greater heights, urging him to break more records and achieve further success.

    The former AC Milan star believes that with the kind of hunger for success Osimhen has shown, he could be the next World’s best player Africa has been patiently waiting for after his own exploits.

    “You have won one Scudetto. Great! When I won my first Scudetto with Milan, I said to myself, why one, why not two? I went on to win another Scudetto with Milan. I went on to win the Ballon d’Or.

    “So why not two or more for you, Victor? The sky is your limit. With your dedication, commitment, humility, and hard work, you can conquer the World. Africa needs another World Best. Africa needs another European Best. You, Victor, can deliver that for us.”

    “May you continue to surge forward. My prayers are with you. My blessings are also with you. I am rooting for you, Victor!” The Liberia President concluded in his congratulatory message that has since gone viral.

    May 9, 2023
  • Napoli’s Scudetto celebrations continue with 1-0 triumph over Fiorentina”

    Napoli’s Scudetto celebrations continue with 1-0 triumph over Fiorentina”

    Napoli celebrated their Scudetto victory with a 1-0 win against Fiorentina, as Victor Osimhen overcame a missed penalty to secure the three points in a festive atmosphere at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

    The match began with subdued energy, as both teams fielded significantly changed lineups. Osimhen initially believed he had squandered Napoli’s best opportunity when his second-half penalty was saved by Pietro Terracciano. However, a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia presented Osimhen with a chance for redemption.

    Napoli’s leading goal scorer made no mistake with his second penalty attempt, ensuring that the Scudetto celebrations concluded with a victory. Fiorentina showed respect to the champions by giving them a pre-match guard of honor, but they were determined to challenge Napoli during the game. Luka Jovic had an early opportunity, narrowly missing with a header.

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    Eljif Elmas missed the target for Napoli as they took time to find their rhythm with Kvaratskhelia and Stanislav Lobotka starting on the bench. Jovic came close again with a deft header, but Pierluigi Gollini denied him. Osimhen also had a chance, but his angled shot found the side netting just before halftime.

    Napoli introduced Kvaratskhelia and Lobotka in an attempt to increase their intensity. Lobotka’s immediate impact drew a clumsy foul from Sofyan Amrabat, resulting in Osimhen’s first penalty opportunity. However, Terracciano saved his shot, pushing it around the left post. Nonetheless, Osimhen would get another chance with 16 minutes remaining.

    Nicolas Gonzalez tripped Kvaratskhelia inside the penalty area, granting Osimhen a second opportunity.

    This time, Osimhen confidently blasted the ball into the roof of the net, ensuring Napoli’s victory. Christian Kouame missed Fiorentina’s best chance to equalize, lifting his shot over the bar late in the match, allowing the champions to hold on to their lead.

    May 7, 2023
  • Osimhen’s agent dismisses transfer market talks after Napoli’s Scudetto win

    Osimhen’s agent dismisses transfer market talks after Napoli’s Scudetto win

    Victor Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has emphasized that the current focus should not be on the transfer market following Napoli’s Scudetto win.

    Victor Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda has stated that this is not the right time to discuss his client’s future following Napoli’s Serie A title win.

    Osimhen played a crucial role in securing a point for Napoli during their tense match against Udinese, underlining his significance to the club throughout the season.

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    With his remarkable performances and numerous broken records, Osimhen’s market value is expected to rise, attracting interest from various European clubs. However, Calenda, speaking to Sky Italia after the victory, praised the strong bond Osimhen has forged with the city and its people. He emphasized that now is not the appropriate time to engage in discussions about the player’s potential transfer.

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    “It is a great satisfaction, for me but above all for the Napoli fans who have been waiting for the scudetto from many years. Victor did his best because he wanted so much to show his qualities that he hadn’t been able to show in the early years.

    “He’s a genuine boy, it shows when he plays that he always tries to do his best for the team and his teammates. He has created this immense bond with the city of Naples and this thing has given him more and more stimuli building up to this incredible satisfaction.”

    Calenda spoke about the striker’s future and stated: “Right now it’s not the time to talk about the transfer market, it’s right to enjoy this victory. There is a great feeling with the Napoli fans and with these colors.”

    Osimhen also echoed a similar sentiment after the title win, stating that he is only focused on enjoying the win with the fans and is not thinking about the future.

    May 6, 2023
  • ‘Legendary Status’, Social media reacts as Osimhen guides Napoli to Serie A title

    ‘Legendary Status’, Social media reacts as Osimhen guides Napoli to Serie A title

    Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen played a starring role as Napoli clinched a third Serie A title and the first in 33 years.

    Osimhen’s league-high 22 goals propelled Napoli to the top of the Serie A and a 1-1 draw with Udinese was enough to crown the Partenopei league champions, with the Nigerian striker scoring the equalising goal.

    Osimhen also equalled George Weah’s record for most Serie A goals by an African striker with 46 goals. Following his exploits for Napoli this season, fans took to Twitter to celebrate Osimhen’s new legendary status.

    Here are some of the best tweets

    From the King himself

    @Jololade The new King of Naples. Victor Osimhen. Omo Ologo. Never give up on your dreams. Chase them down, wake up to it, keep fighting for it. One day one day, e go beta.

    @IbkSports They signed World class Cavani, signed World class Higuain, and still couldn’t win the Serie A. A boy from Nigeria, Victor Osimhen has written his name in gold in the history of Napoli. He has become the greatest Napoli player in the club’s history.

    @OlamideOfficial African Footballer Of The Year belongs to Victor Osimehn this year. He deserves it!

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    @TheMahleek Osimhen add Lerry to IG Live because scoreline for Udinese Vs Napoli match dey Lerry face

    @SaddickAdams As Balotelli said, this boy, Victor Osimhen will not know exactly what he’s done until after some 20 years. When he sits back in his couch to relax and some of these images flashes on the TV.

    @AfamDeluxo This summer is the perfect time for Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli. He came, saw & conquered Italy. It is time to explore a new adventure. I am going to be happy if he ends up in Bayern Munich. The only suitable club for him in EPL is Arsenal, but we know it is not happening.

    @TemisanEA Victor Osimhen hits legendary Serie A status with this title for Napoli.

    @imintsoundz Victor Osimhen has been spectacular for Napoli this season with 22 goals to his name. It was a golden retriever for him to score the goal that brought back Italian Serie A to Naples after 33yrs. Congratulations Nigerian-born champion of Italy.

    May 5, 2023
  • Victor Osimhen leads Napoli to first Serie A title in 33 years

    Victor Osimhen leads Napoli to first Serie A title in 33 years

    Napoli clinched their first Serie A title in 33 years, thanks to Victor Osimhen’s goal that secured a 1-1 draw against Udinese on Thursday.

    Osimhen’s 22nd league goal of the season canceled out Sandi Lovric’s opener, and it was enough to secure Napoli’s third Scudetto, a feat not achieved since the Diego Maradona era.

    Having failed to clinch the title in front of their fans on Sunday, Napoli knew that a point was enough to secure the trophy.

    Osimhen, Napoli’s talisman, was determined to help his team make history and snap a three-game scoreless streak in Serie A. The Super Eagles striker forced a save from Marco Silvestri early on, and his partner in crime, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had a penalty appeal turned down following a VAR review.

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    However, Udinese took the lead in the 13th minute through Lovric, whose stunning finish beat Napoli’s goalkeeper Alex Meret. The goal dampened Napoli’s traveling fans’ enthusiasm, but they continued to make noise in the hope of inspiring their team to victory.

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    Osimhen came close to equalising with a header just after the half-hour mark, but Napoli was fortunate that Lovric did not score a second goal for Udinese a few moments earlier. Napoli’s number nine continued to press for the equalizer, and he finally got it seven minutes into the second half after Silvestri palmed out Kvaratskhelia’s low effort.

    Osimhen thought he had scored his second of the night with 23 minutes remaining, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the build-up. Napoli’s coach, Luciano Spalletti, was tense on the touchline, but his team remained calm on the pitch, seeing out the draw that would go down in history.

    The result means Napoli can finally celebrate a long-awaited Scudetto, a triumph for the club and their fans. Osimhen’s contribution to the title-winning campaign was significant, and his goal in the decisive match will be remembered for years to come.

    May 4, 2023