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The Super Eagles star has been linked with a move away from Napoli this summer following a record-breaking season.
Three years ago, when Osimhen joined Napoli for Lille, the move raised eyebrows as the Neapolitans had paid a huge amount of money for his services.
Napoli paid a club-record fee of €75.00m to sign Osimhen from Lille even though the Nigerian had only spent just one season in Europe’s top five leagues, scoring 18 goals in all competitions.
As expected, there were question marks over the amount Napoli paid for him, with many questioning if Osimhen was truly worth the price.
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Osimhen did not do enough to put those doubts away after scoring just ten league goals in his first season.
He raised his level in his second season, though, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including 14 in the league.
However, this season, Osimhen has cleared any lingering doubts after firing Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Osimhen spearheaded Napoli’s attack, scoring 23 goals and setting up another five in 28 games to fire Spalletti’s men to the title with five games to spare.
The Nigeria international also scored five goals in six Champions League games, although the Neapolitans crashed out in the quarter-final.
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Nonetheless, this season has been a campaign to remember for the 24-year-old. The Super Eagles star’s brilliant form has, however, come at a cost for Napoli, as several clubs are interested in his services.
Osimhen still has two years left on his contract, and Napoli have no intention to sell him. But this season may be the perfect time for him to leave the club.
We take a look at why Osimhen should leave Napoli this summer.
Osimhen deserves to leave on a high for a new challenge
There is no better time for Osimhen to leave than when the ovation is loudest. Before Osimhen arrived, the last player to achieve a god-like status in Naples was Diego Maradona.
Maradona had led Napoli to two Serie A titles in the late 80s. Still, to this day, he is seen as a god.
Osimhen is now on the same pedestal as the late Argentine great in Naples after leading Napoli to their first league title since the days of Maradona.
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His mural is on every wall and street in Naples. The buses are not left out either. His name is being chanted passionately by Napoli fans in every match. He is the Maximus Decimus Meridius of Naples if we can call him that.
With Osimhen achieving a god-like status in Naples, he has nothing more to prove in the city. He has already brought joy to the Neapolitans and they will always cherish him forever for that.
With him conquering Italy, it is time for him to seek a new challenge. The Super Eagles star will not be short of options, with many clubs seeking his services this season.
Maradona left Naples after he won those two league titles. It will not be out of place if Osimhen follows the same route, even though the circumstances that surrounded Maradona’s exit do not apply to the Nigerian.
Osimhen has a chance to make African history
When Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille for a club-record fee, he fell short just about €5m shy of Nicolas Pepe’s African record fee that took him to Arsenal.
However, three years later, Osimhen has the chance to make history and become Africa’s most expensive player in football history if he leaves Napoli.
Should Osimhen decide to leave Napoli, he will go for nothing less than €100.00m, which will make him not just Africa’s most expensive player but also one of the most expensive players in the world.
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The last time Nigeria had a player held the honour of being the most expensive African player was when Austin Jay-Jay Okocha joined Paris Saint-Germain from Fenerbahce.
However, Osimhen’s potential move is bigger as Okocha was not one of the most expensive players in the world when he joined PSG.
Osimhen has a chance to fulfil his Premier League dream
The Super Eagles star has always harbour the dream of playing in England’s top flight, and he has a chance to do that this summer.
There is no better time for Osimhen to move to the biggest football league in the world than right now.
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The conditions are perfect and the clubs are right for him. He has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Chelsea, two of England’s biggest clubs. It does not get bigger than that.
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The clubs want him, especially the Red Devils, who have made Osimhen a high priority. It is not given that Osimhen will replicate his form this year with Napoli next season, which is why he should jump at the chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world in the biggest league in the world.
Osimhen needs to raise his profile
Although Osimhen’s profile has gone through the roof this season, it could still get better if he leaves Napoli this season.
Considering the profile of clubs he has been linked with, Osimhen’s profile will definitely increase if he leaves Napoli this summer.
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The likes of Bayern Munich, Man Utd, Chelsea and PSG are among the biggest clubs in the world. A move to any of the clubs listed will definitely boost Osimhen’s CV and raise his profile worldwide.
Osimhen’s Ballon d’Or push
No disrespect to Napoli, but Osimhen has a higher chance of winning the most prestigious individual honour in football by leaving Naples for a bigger club in Europe.
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This is not to say Osimhen deserves FIFA Best or Ballon d’Or this year, but he would have been getting more shouts for the award if he was playing for a club like Manchester United or Chelsea.
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06:00 - 05.05.2023
Victor Osimhen: 5 reasons why Super Eagles star is the African player of the year
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has had a phenomenal season with Napoli and he deserves a perfect ending by breaking Nigeria's 24-year jinx to become the African Player of the Year
Even before Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s dominance, the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best awards have always gone to exceptional players playing for the traditional big clubs in Europe.
If Osimhen harbours the hope of winning football’s biggest individual prize anytime soon, he has to leave Napoli for a club that will give him the platform to help him achieve his dream.
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