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Former Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has accused Napoli of treating Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen poorly, which he believes was a key reason behind the player's failed transfer to a bigger club during the summer.
Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 for a club-record fee of €75 million. Despite injuries in his first season, the Nigerian forward hit his stride in the 2022/23 campaign, scoring 26 goals to lead Napoli to their first Serie A title in over three decades. His performances earned him comparisons to club legend Diego Maradona, with several top European clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and PSG, showing interest in signing him.
However, a summer move never materialized. Despite Osimhen's achievements, including winning the African Footballer of the Year, his relationship with Napoli became strained after the club posted a controversial video mocking him following a penalty miss. Though the issue was seemingly resolved internally, tensions persisted.
Pinnick suggested that Napoli’s handling of Osimhen’s situation affected his chances of securing a big move. "Osimhen served Napoli with his heart, but the club didn’t treat him fairly," Pinnick said in an interview with Arise News. He noted the club's lack of recognition when Osimhen won the African Footballer of the Year award, waiting two days to congratulate him.
Despite being linked with top clubs, Osimhen ultimately moved to Turkish champions Galatasaray on a season-long loan after Napoli omitted him from their squad list. Pinnick believes Napoli’s poor treatment was a major factor in the collapse of his potential move to a bigger European side.
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