- 16 hours ago
Osimhen’s failed PSG move explained as Lamine Yamal hint dropped
Robin Bairner
- 13 Sept 2024 06:48 BST
- 3 min read
PSG have revealed why they did not sign Napoli’s Victor Osimhen last summer and have dropped a hint they may try to raid Barcelona for Lamine Yamal at some point in the future.
Along with Chelsea and Arsenal, the Parc des Princes side were one of a number of teams that were associated with a possible move for Osimhen, who was trying to force his way out of Napoli.
Reports indicated that they had at one point agreed a €12 million-per-year package with the player, yet no deal was agreed because the Serie A club’s demands in terms of a transfer fee were too great. Napoli wanted Osimhen’s €130m release clause matched, which PSG were not prepared to get near.
READ MORE: PSG ORDERED to pay Mbappe €55m after contract dispute
Sporting director Luis Campos has explained why no deal was done.
Speaking at the Thinking Football Summit in Portugal, he said: “Osimhen was studied as one of the possibilities but we concluded that we were very satisfied with Goncalo Ramos, Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio.”
Instead, the striker completed a shock move to Galatasaray on loan.
READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals
Compared
Victor Osimhen
F (C)
Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen
F (C)
Galatasaray
VS
Lamine Yamal
F, AM (R)
Barcelona
Lamine Yamal
F, AM (R)
Barcelona
|
|
ETV |
|
| €53.3M - €88.9M | ETV Range | €62.3M - €103.9M |
| 25 years old (29 Dec, 1998) | Age | 17 years old (13 Jul, 2007) |
|
Nigeria
|
Nationality |
Spain
|
Lamine Yamal to PSG?
Campos went on to heap praise on Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal – a player that Barca president Joan Laporta claimed PSG made a €200m bid for.
“Of course I like Lamine Yamal, but also Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Kang In-Lee, Marco Asensio, Gocçalo Ramos… Fantastic players of enormous quality.
“To say that Lamine Yamal is not a great player would be a huge mistake. He is an excellent footballer and I am very happy to see him playing at his level.”
There was, however, no suggestion that PSG are planning an imminent bid for the 17-year-old, who is under contract until 2026 and has a release clause of a mammoth €1 billion.
Nevertheless, the Ligue 1 side have positioned themselves to potentially move for Lamine Yamal should he ever leave Barcelona.
They are likely to be left disappointed, with the teenager having told El Hormiguero this week: “I never want to leave Barca. I want to become a legend of this club.”
