Nigerian International striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly holding out against a move to Al Hilal after rejecting an improved €30 thirty million euros (about N53 million) per annum salary from the Saudi Pro League side
While Football Italia claimed Osimhen had turned down the Saudi’s ‘opening proposal’ of €26m (about N46 billion) per annum salary for a three-year deal, other outlets including Sky Sports asserted over the weekend that both Napoli and the Nigerian ace had agreed to a formal deal.
Incidentally, Napoli which turned down Al-Hilal’s offer of €70m presumably agreed to a deal for the 26-year-old striker after the Saudi side agreed to pay the full €75m release clause valid for teams outside of Serie A.
In what has become a long-drawn-out transfer deal for the Nigerian, Al-Hilal had been pushing to bring Osimhen to the club in time for the start of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14.
The Saudi outfit were to pay the €75m fee over three instalments, following a request from new head coach Simone Inzaghi to pay the extra €6m-€7m needed to get the deal done after having their initial bid turned down.
“The Saudi giants, now coached by former Inter tactician Simone Inzaghi, had also offered an enormous €30m-per-season contract offer to the 26-year-old, who has since decided to reject the offer,” Football Italia reporter, Alfredo Pedullà, noted. “Osimhen’s rejection of the Al-Hilal offer is considered definitive.
“The player has expressed a desire to continue playing in Europe. It remains to be seen whether Galatasaray, where Osimhen spent the 2024-25 season, will return with another attempt to make the loan deal permanent,” he added.
The Napoli-owned centre-forward came up with a tally of 37 goals from 41 appearances across all competitions during his loan spell in Istanbul.
But Turkey-based journalist Onur Dincer, last night told NationSport that Galatasaray are equally expecting a final word from Osimhen despite offering half of what Al Hilal has tabled for the former FIFA U-17 World Cup winner.
“ Of course, Galatasaray are waiting for his (Osimhen) decision,” Dincer who is attached with Millyet Newspaper, told NationSport. “ Galatasaray offered him nearly N15 million euros , now he has to decide.”
Osimhen has been under contract with Napoli for the last five years, having joined in a €70m deal from Lille in 2020. He netted 65 goals from 108 Serie A appearances, and played a crucial role in helping Napoli to their first Serie A title in well over 30 years during the 2022-23 season.
However, after a tough season across the board in 2023-24, Osimhen was expected to be sold.
A permanent exit never materialised in the summer of 2024, and the Nigerian saw negotiations with both Chelsea and Al-Ahli collapse in spectacular fashion on deadline day last year.
That led to his joining Galatasaray on loan for the 2024-25 season, where he has since provided 37 goals from 41 matches in all competitions.
Now, still under contract with Napoli, the Nigerian is expected to be sold to Al-Hilal, who are now under the stewardship of head coach Inzaghi following his recent departure as head coach of Inter.
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