Antonio Caliendo 'the father of agents' insists Chelsea target Osimhen is worth a third of a trillion naira

In one of the soap operas of the summer transfer window, the future of Victor Osimhen is yet to be resolved approximately three weeks before the window closes for business.

Former Italian intermediary Antonio Caliendo, who used to look after Italy legend Roberto Baggio, has blamed Osimhen's agent Roberto Calenda for not properly managing negotiations on behalf of his client. 

Aged 80 years, Caliendo is widely regarded as the 'father of agents' as the Mariglianella native received the first-ever written power of attorney from a footballer, Giancarlo Antognoni in 1977 when the attacking midfielder was playing for Fiorentina.

Osimhen has been declared surplus to requirements by Napoli ahead of the new season, with manager Antonio Conte insisting on the signing of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. 

In order for the deal to go through, Napoli want to sign the Belgian on a permanent deal with the Nigerian moving in the opposite direction. 

The discussions between Napoli and Chelsea have reached an impasse as Calenda, Osimhen's agent, is pushing for a permanent move rather than a loan with a buy option.

"The relationship between agent and client has also changed, the intermediary takes care of the deal, not the player," Caliendo told Corriere dello Sport, via V Sport.

"He lives day by day, for me a contract means a long-term investment. I spoke to my parents once or twice a day, I took care of everything. Today there is a lot of superficiality, look at how Osimhen is managed".

Caliendo claims that the management of Osimhen's power of attorney has damaged the player, adding that the reigning African Footballer of Year is worth 200 million euros, approximately a third of a trillion naira in Nigerian currency.

He has suggested that the reason for the delay in the transfer of Osimhen is not due to the lack of offers from Premier League clubs and Saudi Arabian teams but only and exclusively to his agent.

"Osimhen is a player worth 200 million and now he is forced to stay on the sidelines waiting for I don't know what.

"I know Calenda, he made Maicon leave Real in fact in Brazil they don't let him in anymore."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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