Behind the Scenes of Napoli’s ‘Mafia-like’ hold on Victor Osimhen

Napoli had allegedly wanted to make a slave of Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen.

In a shocking revelation aired on Arise TV, a Nigerian sports correspondent has pulled back the curtain on the alleged mafia-like tactics Napoli employed to prevent their star striker, Victor Osimhen, from leaving the club during the summer transfer window.

In what can only be described as a mafia-like grip, the Italian side allegedly thwarted several transfer bids, including a lucrative offer from Saudi giants Al Ahli and a £150 million move from PSG.

According to the correspondent, who held a private conversation with Osimhen thanks to former NFF president Amaju Pinnick, the Italian club went to extraordinary lengths to frustrate multiple attempts by the Super Eagles forward to secure a transfer, leading to Osimhen feeling trapped and betrayed.

The correspondent revealed that the club’s actions were not just about hard-nosed negotiations but took on a darker tone, bordering on what Osimhen reportedly described as “modern-day slavery.” The striker’s alleged frustrations stem from Napoli’s refusal to honor a supposed gentlemen’s agreement made in 2023, in which club president Aurelio De Laurentiis assured Osimhen that he would be allowed to leave the following summer if a club matched his release clause of €130 million.

According to the insider, the situation began unraveling in 2022 when Al Ahli first came knocking with a substantial £75 million bid.

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Napoli quickly shut down the offer, reportedly demanding an eye-watering £500 million—an unrealistic price that scared off the Saudi club. In 2023, Paris Saint-Germain entered the fray with a massive £150 million offer, but again Napoli turned it down, despite the striker’s desire to leave.

Osimhen reportedly believed that 2024 would be his chance to depart Napoli, but once again, the club allegedly moved the goalposts.

When Al Ahli returned with an improved offer that included £30 million in annual wages, a mansion, and top-tier schooling for Osimhen’s daughter, Napoli allegedly blocked the deal at the last minute, insisting on more money, sell-on clauses, and additional bonuses.

Contrary to the reports, it is now being revealed that Victor Osimhen did not reject a move to the Saudi Pro League.

In a desperate attempt to push through the deal, Osimhen even offered to cover the extra £5 million Napoli demanded from his own salary—an extraordinary gesture that was still not enough to satisfy the Italian club’s demands.

To make matters worse, Napoli’s refusal to let Osimhen leave took a toll on his mental health, especially following the infamous TikTok video posted by Napoli’s social media team, which mocked the striker in a racially insensitive manner by comparing him to a coconut. Osimhen felt humiliated and betrayed, and according to the correspondent, his relationship with the club soured beyond repair.

In a twist, Antonio Conte, who was briefly linked with Napoli, reportedly reached out to Osimhen and pleaded with him to stay, but Osimhen declined, stating that the situation had deteriorated too far for reconciliation.

Napoli, however, spun the narrative, releasing a statement claiming that it was Conte who didn’t want Osimhen—a move that further fueled the striker’s frustration. Conte later denied this in a public statement, aligning more with Osimhen’s version of events.

Enter the Capitalist Chelsea and Todd Boehly franchise

The correspondent went on to detail how Chelsea also attempted to capitalize on the situation by offering Osimhen a £130,000-a-week contract after his deal with Al Ahli fell through.

However, Osimhen refused to accept the offer, pointing out that after taxes and deductions, he would be left with a meager salary that was far below his expectations. Chelsea’s hedge-fund owners, who have a reputation for aggressive deal-making, tried to swoop in at the last minute, but Osimhen saw through their tactics and rejected their offer as well.

One of the most striking claims made by the correspondent was Napoli’s insistence on retaining control over Osimhen, even when the player had clearly expressed his desire to leave. “If this is what Napoli wants to reduce me to, I’m going to call their bluff,” Osimhen allegedly said, expressing his frustration over being forced to stay at a club he no longer wanted to represent.

Despite all the noise surrounding his future, Osimhen has yet to make a public statement about the allegations. Napoli, too, has remained tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying the claims. The Italian club’s silence, however, has done little to quell the growing speculation about the real reasons behind Osimhen’s failed exit.

The correspondent’s revelations paint a troubling picture of the behind-the-scenes dealings at Napoli and also of European clubs in general, in Napoli’s case, it suggests that the club may have used underhanded tactics to retain one of their most valuable assets.

For Osimhen, the ordeal has been a mental and emotional rollercoaster, as he faces a club that appears determined to hold onto him at all costs, even if it means stalling his career progression and affecting his mental well-being.