'I Wanted To Start Playing As Soon As I turned 18' - Osimhen Explains Why He Rejected Arsenal, Barca, Juventus

Published: April 15, 2020

Victor Osimhen has explained why he rejected a move to European powerhouses Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal before sealing a transfer to Wolfsburg in January 2017.

Several clubs expressed an interest in signing the Ultimate Strikers product after he starred at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup, where he scored 10 goals to win the Golden Boot award.

Wolfsburg stole a march on their rivals for the signature of Osimhen after assuring him of first team opportunities.

Taking up the story, Osimhen told Independent UK : "I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal.

"I had a lot of options. Barcelona; Inter Milan; Atletico Madrid; Juventus and the rest."

The Lille striker added : "Arsenal was a good option but it wasn’t the best at the time. I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18.

"I wanted to go to a place where I had time to invest in my game and improve physically. Wolfsburg showed me that possibility."

Osimhen made sixteen appearances for Wolfsburg's first team before he was loaned out to Sporting Charleroi, for whom he scored 20 goals in 36 games over the course of the 2018-2019 season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel