Osimhen opens up on Napoli transfer turmoil in Police statement

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has shared a deeply personal and emotional account of his controversial transfer from Lille to Napoli, as part of an ongoing investigation by Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza.

The Nigerian international, who moved to Napoli for €78.9 million ahead of the 2020/21 season, gave his statement amid allegations of irregularities surrounding the deal.

According to reports in the Italian press, Osimhen revealed that the transfer process unfolded during a difficult period in his life, particularly due to his father’s illness.

He claimed that his former agent, Jean Gerard, prioritized the move over his family’s wellbeing. ‘

‘My mind wasn’t on football at the time. I just wanted to know how my father was doing,’ Osimhen said.

Osimhen recounted being summoned to Nice, where Lille’s sporting director Luis Campos and club president Gerard Lopez informed him that a deal with Napoli had already been agreed.

‘They told me it was a good opportunity for Lille because of the pandemic, but I didn’t know anything,’ he stated.

Tragically, Osimhen’s father passed away during the negotiation period.

‘I was very angry with Lille and my agent because I didn’t get to see my father before he died,’ he said. ‘They even told me I had to travel to Naples the day after his death.’

Despite his grief, Osimhen traveled to Italy out of respect for Lille’s president, though he had no intention of signing anything.

He met with Napoli’s coach and later with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis in Capri. However, language barriers and confusion over contract details left him unsettled.

‘They asked if I’d seen the contract, but I didn’t understand anything they were saying in Italian,’ he explained.

Back at his hotel, Osimhen asked his agent for the draft contract, only to be told it didn’t exist.

‘I was surprised because the president had said otherwise. Eventually, he showed me a so called agreement paper with Napoli. I got angry and wanted to return to France,’ he said. He requested time off and traveled to Paris, later severing ties with his agent.

Eventually, Osimhen turned to William D’Avila to handle the transfer.

‘When I saw Napoli’s genuine interest, I asked William D’Avila to take care of everything,’ he said.

The final contract was signed at the end of July, in the presence of key figures including Maurizio Micheli, D’Avila, Lopez, Ingla, Calenda, and Cros.