Former Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed why Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen’s proposed switch from Napoli to Chelsea collapsed on deadline day.
The 25-year-old who was heavily linked to The Blues and other suitors in France, and Saudi Arabia, had a broken relationship with his Italian employers and tendered a transfer request to leave the club a year after helping Napoli end their 33-year wait for a league title 2022-23 season when he was crowned Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals furious with the Italian side.
According to reports, Napoli had accepted an €80 million ($88.5 million) offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli on deadline day, but Osimhen expressed doubts about leaving European football.
Mikel, who was involved in the deal with Osimhen, has revealed that the transfer was just ‘hours away’ from being finalized and noted that the forward was ‘disappointed’ when the move fell through.
“I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to; we finally got to a compromise; both sides had to compromise, I was just some little things here and there, paperwork, medical, and a few issues we just couldn’t get over the line, and we didn’t have much time,” Mikel revealed on The Obi One Podcast.
“Both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done, and I commend Chelsea for that because I can see their ambition of where they want to take this club now and also on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club.
“He was disappointed it didn’t happen. I spoke to him when the transfer window shut. I gave him a call. We spent 20 minutes talking, I said, ‘Listen, I’m always here for you. You need to keep your head down. You need to keep working hard. Keep training. I know it’s not the best situation right now, but I know you’re strong.’
“You know, Victor’s a strong character; he’s a bit like Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, and that’s something we’re missing at the club—strikers who have that edge, who have that bite who can intimidate defenders, and Victor definitely has that.”
Speaking further, Mikel dismissed reports of issues between Osimhen and Chelsea over the failed transfer.
“Definitely, there are no issues. I think if we have to pick this back up again like I said, whenever it is, January or next summer, we know where we are, we know where we’ve stopped, and it’s just little details that need to be finalised and the deal will be done.
“So for me, the club is in a very happy place with Victor, and Victor is in a very happy place with the club.
“I want to make sure; I’m not going to rest; I want to make sure I get him to the club because I know, not because he’s my friend, or he’s like my younger brother, or he’s Nigerian; no, he is one of the best strikers in the world right now; he’s Africa’s best player; I know what he can bring to the club, and I’m sure a lot of Chelsea fans know what Victor can bring to the club.”
The reigning African Footballer of the Year has since sealed a season-long loan deal to Galatasaray.
