'You must not be greedy' - Padovan blasts Napoli for not selling Osimhen last summer

Italian pundit Giancarlo Padovan is of the opinion that Victor Osimhen should have been sold last summer rather than Napoli  waiting until the end of the 2023-2024 season.

The Nigeria national teamer has been linked with potential moves to Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain but the aforementioned clubs have not tabled an official offer for his signature. 

Napoli have not received a serious approach from the Premier League and Ligue 1 giants because Osimhen's release clause of 130 million euros is considered unrealistic. 

In 2022-2023, Osimhen set the Serie A alight as his goals fired Napoli to their first title in thirty three years and was named the best striker in the Italian top-flight after netting 26 goals in 32 matches. 

In the past season, the reigning African Footballer of the Year could not replicate his performances as he managed only fifteen goals in the Serie A and missed an opportunity to put himself in the shop window at the 2023 Africa cup of Nations, where he scored just once. 

Padovan noted that Osimhen, in the space of one year, went from being a player in high demand to a striker who doesn't have many suitors ready to meet his release clause. 

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, via TMW, Padovan said: "There won't be any offers for Osimhen, he was supposed to be sold last year: another mistake by president De Laurentiis.

"When they offer you 100 million for one, you must not be greedy and say next year he will be worth 20 more, because that is not the case. 

"And now they find themselves with an Osimhen on their back and they don't know what to do with him, not because he has become a failure, obviously he is an important player, but in the meantime they have given him a 10 million contract."

He added: "This is a contract that Napoli cannot and does not want to tolerate, I would say rightly because they had made the calculation: we will sell him next year. 

"You don't make these calculations, you take the money, especially if it's a lot, in the year in which they offer it to you. The following year all the dynamics change"

Osimhen has already made it clear he wants to play in the Premier League despite concrete interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League. 

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