Osimhen accused of a ‘crime’ against Napoli as ‘extraordinary’ Lukaku claim made

Robin Bairner

• 19 Sept 2024 11:00 BST
• 2 min read

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has committed a “crime” against the club, according to one high-profile figure, who says that Romelu Lukaku has already made fans of Serie A giants forget their fallen idol.

Osimhen went to war with Napoli this summer during a transfer saga that stretched beyond the end of the Italian window and only ended with an unexpected loan move to Galatasaray.

While the club demanded €130 million for his permanent sale, the 25-year-old Nigeria international had the opportunity to complete a loan move to Chelsea but he refused to lower his wage demands.

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This left him in limbo, with Napoli head coach Antonio Conte having frozen him out of his plans for the season, before Galatasaray made their move.

Journalist Antonello Perillo offered Rai Radio Live Napoli a withering assessment of Osimhen’s final weeks at the club.

“Osimhen has stained his reputation with a crime,” he said. “Romelu Lukaku has already made us forget Osimhen, who was guilty of abruptly interrupting his relationship with the club and its fans, who had made him an idol for the many goals he scored in the historic run to the third Scudetto.”

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Compared

Romelu Lukaku

F (C)

Napoli

Romelu Lukaku

F (C)

Napoli

VS

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Galatasaray

€35.2M	ETV	€71.1M
€26.4M - €44M	ETV Range	€53.3M - €88.9M
31 years old (13 May, 1993)	Age	25 years old (29 Dec, 1998)
Belgium	Nationality	Nigeria

Lukaku a fine Osimhen replacement

Perillo went on to praise the instant impact that Lukaku, signed for €30m from Chelsea late in the summer transfer window, has had.

The Belgium international scored one and created two more in his first start against Cagliari.

“In Naples, everyone has forgotten about Osimhen thanks to the new striker who has immediately taken the Nigerian’s place in the heart of the attack and the Azzurri fans,” Perillo said.

“An extraordinary player for the almost 400 goals he’s scored in his career, but also for his technical and physical characteristics, Romelu Lukaku is unique.”

Osimhen has yet to make his debut for Galatasaray, but that could arrive on Saturday, when the Turkish side face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in an enormous Super Lig clash.