Napoli owner slams £170m ‘blockade’ on Osimhen move, taunts Man United News

Navigation: Home / News / News / Napoli owner slams £170m ‘blockade’ on Osimhen move, taunts Man United

Napoli owner slams £170m ‘blockade’ on Osimhen move, taunts Man United

By Daily Sports Nigeria on July 14, 2023

Manchester United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen after Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis said he believes only PSG can afford to buy the striker this summer.

The Nigerian international enjoyed a spectacular campaign last season, topping the Serie A scoring charts as Napoli won their first league title in 33 years. As a result, Osimhen, who joined the club for £69million from Lille in 2020, has been tipped to move to one of European football’s elite clubs with Manchester United among the clubs interested.

But with an astronomical asking price in place for a player whose contract runs until 2025, Erik ten Hag’s side are looking increasingly likely to fill their attacking void elsewhere.

De Laurentiis, who is known to be a shrewd negotiator, appeared to recognise as much in his comments this week. Claiming that only the riches of PSG will be enough to prise the 24-year-old away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer.

The only club that could afford Victor Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain,’ De Laurentiis told Mediaset.

‘If Nasser Al Khelaifi [PSG president] wants to send in a bid around £170million, we wait and we see what happens. I personally think that Victor will stay here.’

Osimhen netted 26 times to lead all scorers and claim the coveted capocannoniere crown. The first African player to do so.

The characteristically entrenched stance of Napoli’s president leaves the forward staring at another season with the club and Manchester United searching for yet another option up front.

The Red Devils have met similar resistance from Tottenham and Daniel Levy this summer after they had shown interest in signing Harry Kane, who has only a year left on his contract.

Attention has already turned in part to the promising Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, but even he is proving difficult to budge from his home in Bergamo.

Unfortunately for the club, they find themselves with a rather simple issue. Money. Following the £65m signing of Mason Mount, and the necessary purchase of a first-choice keeper – believed to be Inter Milan’s Andre Onana – United have precious little to fork out on a front man.

At present, Hojlund remains the focus. At just 20-years-old he is a player at the start of his career. And after scoring 10 goals and providing two assists it is clear he shows plenty of promise.Whether United’s football director, John Murtough can put together an attractive enough offer is the big question.

Source Opera News

Posted July 14, 2023