A FIFA-licensed agent, George Gardi, has rubbished recent reports linking Victor Osimhen to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, amid the wave of interest in the Nigerian striker ahead of the summer transfer window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Gardi was the agent who brokered the player’s loan move to Galatasaray in January and has remained in the mix ahead of another decisive summer in Osimhen’s career.
Osimhen’s loan spell from Napoli will be over at the end of the 2024/25 season, with top clubs in Europe already jostling for his signature.
However, it’s also rumoured in Turkey that Gardi was in talks with Al Hilal over the player’s transfer, but the agent denied such claims.
“These claims are completely baseless. Victor made me a promise when he joined Galatasaray. He wouldn’t sign with any club before the season ends. And indeed, despite receiving lucrative offers, he kept his word.
“Besides, with a player like Victor, something like ‘taking him somewhere’ is out of the question. The biggest clubs in the world want him; he doesn’t need anyone to carve his own path.”
After his failed move to Chelsea last summer, the 26-year-old is still strongly linked with a move to the Premier League.
Manchester United and Chelsea are said to be top contenders for his signing, while Arsenal have also mooted the idea in their search for a striker ahead of next season.
Italian giants Juventus are also said to be interested in luring the 2022/23 Serie A top scorer to the Allianz Arena, but his parent club Napoli, are bent on rejecting the proposal of their rivals.
PUNCH Sports Extra had reported that the former Serie A champions Napoli are willing to lower Osimhen’s €75m valuation to enable Manchester United to seal a deal for the Nigerian striker and also prevent him from joining Juventus in the summer.
Galatasaray are also reported to be ready to make sacrifices to keep the 26-year-old, but they will struggle to convince him of such a move.
Since moving to the Turkish Super Lig side, the 26-year-old has scored 29 goals and provided six assists in all competitions for Okan Buruk’s side this season, as the wave of interest in him hot up in Europe.
