Jorginho consulted in Napoli bid to sign Victor Osimhen from Lille as Nigerian linked with Erik ten Hag Manchester United
Nigerian International Victor Osimhen has been linked with Manchester United in the summer with Erik ten Hag hoping to address his desire for a typical center forward.
Osimhen has become a target for many European top clubs after producing interesting stats at Napoli this season so far. But the Serie A side their former midfielder Jorginho to thank who helped Napoli to secure Osimhen’s signature from Lille 5 years ago.
The Italian and former Chelsea centrocampista told Napoli to sign Victor Osimhen “straight away” when he was consulted on the forward.
The Nigerian, who first made his name at Lille, moved to Italy in 2020 and has continued to produce for the Serie A outfit. Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli is tasked with recruitment and sought a second opinion on the forward, so picked up the phone to call Jorginho.
Their decision to spend more than €80m on Osimhen, making him the most expensive African player in history, has paid dividends. He’s scored 19 times this term – his best effort to date with months of the season still to go – with Jorginho hailing the 24-year-old.
He told DAZN : “I had played against him in the Champions League and he had given a hard time to our defenders. Giuntoli called me before signing him and I told him to sign him straight away, he is very promising and is doing really well. They [Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia] are flying and everything is going well. There is winning energy.”
Osimhen and Napoli look poised to end the city’s wait for a league title, which dates back to Diego Maradona’s successful 1990 side. Their win over Sassuolo at the weekend means they have established a 15-point lead at the top of Serie A whilst they’ve also been immensely competitive in Europe.
Their star forward has been incredibly influential this term, which has led to links with Europe’s heavyweights, although he does have a contract in Naples until 2025. Nevertheless, Osimhen hasn’t ruled anything out but accepts that his club will have the final say.
He told ESPN : “When you are doing so well, top clubs around the world are watching, mostly in the top five leagues. And to be able to attract interest from these top clubs shows that I am doing great and it gives me the motivation to do even more for myself and my team.
“But I am focused on Napoli right now and they have the final say. I just want to help my team to win matches and win trophies. At the end of the season, we will see what is going to happen, but that is not up to me. It is for the club to decide.”
Manchester United are among those linked with the forward as they look to bolster their ranks in the final third. Erik ten Hag was unable to sign a natural No.9 in his first summer at the helm and is keen to address the issue imminently amid links with the likes of Harry Kane, whose long-term Tottenham future is also unclear.
