'I'm not surprised' - Pundit backs Osimhen's decision to pick MLS over Saudi Pro League
Published: October 28, 2023Napoli striker Victor Osimhen recently went on Mario Balotelli's live stream and said that all things being equal if he had to leave Europe, he would pick Major League Soccer over the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
Having failed to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe and 2022 World Cup winner Lionel Messi, Al Hilal made an enormous bid for Osimhen in the summer transfer window but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis did not want to do business with the four-time Asian champions.
The saga surrounding Osimhen and his future has dominated the headlines for some time now due to his contract situation at Napoli.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers top scorer will enter the last one year of his contract with Napoli at the end of the current season and no progress has been made in contract renewal talks.
Discussing Osimhen's suggestion that he would rather play in the MLS rather than in the Saudi Pro League, ESPN FC's pundit Gab Marcotti says he's not surprised that the striker chose the American top flight.
"The key thing is 'all things being equal' so if they gave you the same money in Saudi Arabia that they gave you in MLS, and I say this with the greatest of respect to Riyadh and Jeddah, would you rather live in LA and further your career in the world's biggest economy, 350 million people, celebrity bling, or would you rather do it in Saudi Arabia?
"I can understand why Osimhen would say this so I'm not surprised. Things generally are not equal. MLS generally pays less which is why Benzema and Cristiano are not in MLS right now," Marcotti said on The Gab & Juls Show.
Former Lille striker Osimhen joined Napoli in 2020 for a fee in the region of 70 million euros, making him the most expensive Nigerian player in history.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- Habeeb Ogunneye: 18yo Nigerian right-back named in Man Utd's travelling squad to face Fenerbahce
- 'My mum is from Nigeria' - Arsenal forward confirms he is qualified to represent Super Eagles, Black Stars, England
- 'My mother is Nigerian' - Red Bull Salzburg loanee confirms he is eligible to represent Super Eagles
- 'It’s a precautionary measure' - Alonso explains why Onyeka replaced Boniface in Leverkusen squad
- 'Almost breaks Reijnders ankle' - Club Brugge icon calls out Onyedika for dangerous tackle on AC Milan star
- Brendan Rodgers reveals how close he came to bringing Atalanta dazzler Lookman to Celtic
- 'These kind of mistakes' - Hayen to hold talks with Onyedika after 2 red cards in 4 European games
- 'Wasn't a punishment': AC Milan coach clarifies decision to bring on Chukwueze for Rafael Leao
- 'When I think of Martinez, Thuram' - Athekame admits Young Boys will face quality Inter Milan team
- 2024 Fifa U17 Women's World Cup: Five observations from Flamingos 1-0 win over Dominican Republic
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Casinos not on Gamstop
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football