The future of Victor Osimhen continues to be the subject of speculation after his heroics helped Napoli win their third tile in the Italian Serie A.
The Nigeria national football team ace has scored 23 goals in 29 games for the Partenopei this season to lead them to the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years, after the legendary Diego Maradona's efforts in 1988 and 1990.
Teams are now willing to splash the cash to bring Osimhen on board with hopes that his talents can help them achieve similar goals. He, however, has a contract with the Italian club until 2025.
Keep Osimhen indefinitely, says renowned agent Fulvio Marrucco
The AFCON qualifiers 2023 top scorer is currently the hottest property on the transfer market. Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis had slapped a £150 million price tag on him when the news of interested clubs began making the rounds.
🚨 Napoli have increased their asking price for Victor Osimhen to €160m in anticipation of a bidding war for the 24-year-old striker.
(Source: Il Matino) pic.twitter.com/Rv6Mm9oMfw
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 11, 2023
He was also advised by Diego Simeone, Atlético de Madrid manager, who came to celebrate with him following their Scudetto win, to quickly cash in on the Nigeria Super Eagles striker and rebuild ahead of the new season.
Simeone's advice came after another Italian football director, Giuseppe Cannella, advised the club to do the same, but for €150 million.
Two months ago, De Laurentiis was on board with this idea but after seeing how in love with Victor Osimhen the city of Naples is, he took a U-turn on his decision.
During the Scudetto celebrations after Napoli won the title against Udinese thanks to Osimhen's goal, De Laurentiis was asked if he would consider selling the former LOSC Lille striker. His response was straightforward, “No way!” And he has reportedly stuck by it till now.
It is understood that he sees the AFCON 2023 golden boot hopeful as important to their efforts to retain the title next season, as well as their new goal of going further than they did this season in next season's UEFA Champions League.
Renowned football agent, Fulvio Marrucco, has echoed those sentiments in a recent interview.
Osimhen sale, others, could fetch €220 million for Napoli, Marrucco says
Marrucco believes that Osimhen is priceless at this point and that Napoli should do all they can to keep him beyond this season.
The agent who has represented many famous Italian players including Gianfranco Zola, was speaking to Radio Marte (via Tutto Napoli) when he stated that the club could be passing up on around €220 million for a potential squad rebuild if they hold on to Victor Osimhen and other players like Kim Min-jae, who is also in high demand.
However, he believes that De Laurentiis' decision to keep the player beyond this season is the right call giving the improvement in Serie A football.
“Kim or Osimhen? I would keep Osimhen all my life who for me, represents 40% of the strength of Naples,” Marrucco said. “It is clear that if it were up to me, I would confirm both, but it is unlikely that will happen.
“Should both go away and unfortunately the danger exists, Napoli would still have a lot of money to spend. There is talk, hypothetically, of 220 million euros of possible receipts: well, half of it would be enough to buy several important players.”
Marrucco also stressed that since Napoli have renewed Luciano Spaletti's contract as the club's manager, that keeping Osimhen would be the right call.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago
