Victor Osimhen rejected a move to Manchester United from LOSC Lille in 2020 out of respect for Odion Ighalo, according to claims made by his elder brother Andrew Osimhen.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, Man United and nouveau-riche Newcastle United all interested in the forwards signature. Osimhen, meanwhile, is under contract at Napoli until 2024/25.
The club prefer to keep him but are reported to be willing to listen to offers between £80 and £90 million for their most sellable asset. United are reported to be preparing a bid of £84 million to sign Osimhen, which will make it the second time that they have declared an interest in the striker, according to his elder brother.
The Red Devils needed a striker in the winter transfer window of 2020 and when they could not get Erling Haaland, they had Ighalo and Osimhen as options. Andrew claims that Victor chose to reject the Premier League record holders' approach out of respect for his senior colleague.
“It is very true that Manchester United wanted Victor,” Andrew Osimhen said in September 2020. “But he told me something like he had too much respect for Odion Ighalo to be competing for shirts with his senior colleague.
“My brother holds Ighalo in high esteem and he just didn’t see himself going to Old Trafford to battle for a striking role with the highest goal-scorer at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.”
Ighalo has since moved on to Saudi Arabia after a good run in the Man United shirt which included some famous goals in the cup competitions which they participated in that season. The 33-year-old is currently the most lethal forward in Saudi Arabia and is also being touted with a move back to Europe.
Victor Osimhen, meanwhile, has been exceptional at Napoli, showing why the biggest clubs are still interested in his signature. He scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 24 league games in an injury-laden first season at the club. He has suffered the same fate this season with injuries, but he has also bagged 12 in 23 league games, providing four assists.
While Man United bid could be tempting for the striker and Napoli, other sources have suggested that Osimhen is more than likely to remain at Napoli as he believes has a point to prove in the Serie A.
United could also be forced to enter a bidding war with Arsenal and Newcastle United for the striker to convince Napoli to sell if Osimhen chooses to leave when the season is over, which may dampen their hopes of progressing with the bid as well.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
