How greedy Napoli denied Osimhen lucrative move to Saudi Arabia

International football expert, Gianluca Di Marzio, through his official website, has revealed how Napoli’s desire for more oil money from Saudi Pro League side, Al Ahli scuttled Victor Osimhen’s deadline day transfer.

Di Marzio says the directors of Al-Ahli and Chelsea had arrived in Naples to negotiate Osimhen’s transfer with the blue club.

‘Initially, Al-Ahli had reached an agreement with the player with a negotiation that included the presence of a release clause.

‘The operation had been closed by (Napoli) sporting director Manna at a figure of 65 million euros plus 5 in bonuses. However, given Chelsea’s presence in the race for the player, Napoli tried to raise the offer to 75 million.

“And although the deal could have been closed even at 70, the Saudi club decided not to increase the figure. A situation that annoyed the directors of Al-Ahli, convincing the club to turn to England international, Ivan Toney,’ wrote Di Marzio.

The transfer expert also revealed how Chelsea failed to convince the Nigerian to come to west London.

‘Chelsea tried to convince the player by presenting higher offers, with a part of the salary linked to parameters such as the number of appearances or the club’s qualification for the Champions League. (Enzo) Maresca himself tried to convince Osimhen in the last hours of the transfer market, the striker never opened for Chelsea. A series of situations that, at the end of the transfer market, denied Osimhen’s departure from Maradona.’