Osimhen gets STRONG Saudi transfer message as 'greedy' Napoli striker slammed

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 2 Sept 2024 12:59 BST
• 3 min read

Victor Osimhen appears destined to spend the first four months of the season training alone at Napoli after receiving a very definite transfer message from the Saudi Pro League.

Osimhen had been linked with a Deadline Day move to Al-Ahli but the deal ultimately broke down, with the Saudi Pro League outfit choosing instead to complete a deal for Brentford striker Ivan Toney. A switch to Chelsea also failed to materialise.

While there had been some speculation that Osimhen and Toney might hook up at the Pro League side, a lack of available slots of foreign players has put paid to that.

READ MORE: Osimhen’s FURIOUS reaction to failed transfer revealed as Napoli ace faces ‘TOXIC’ claim

Current ETV

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Napoli

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Napoli

€71.1M

ETV Range

€53.3M - €88.9M

View full profile

There was, however, some hope that Osimhen might find refuge at another Saudi club.

Gazzetta dello Sport says that will not be the case, with CalcioNapoli24 indicating that there is a “close to zero” chance of the 25-year-old striker moving either to the Por League or the Qatar Stars League, which has been more quietly investing in players like Marco Verratti in recent months.

It claims that it will take a “sensational twist” for a deal to be done.

READ MORE: Mudryk over the next Mbappe? Chelsea left regretting HUGE transfer blunder

Osimhen earning €30k per day

Osimhen is not being treated lightly by the Italian media, with Corriere dello Sport particularly scathing of the forward.

“He was the hero, now all he has left is money,” it says (via TMW).

Osimhen, it states, is earning €30,136 as a net daily salary, which equates to €11 million a year.

Napoli, though, had the opportunity to sell Osimhen to PSG. The French side offered €150m a year ago but were knocked back, while they agreed personal terms with the striker this summer but were unwilling to match his release clause of €130m, which the Serie A club were adamant must be reached.

By the time Chelsea were willing to make a loan offer, the French club, who were going to pay the forward €12m a year, had dropped out of the race.

The Blues, meanwhile, were unable to get close to the salary wanted by Osimhen – there were reports they were €100,000 a week apart – and no deal could be brokered as the striker did not want to take a pay cut.