Sunday Oliseh, a FIFA Technical Committee member and Nigerian football legend, has advanced reasons why major European teams were indisposed to pursue their interests in Super Eagles attacker Victor Osimhen.
Recall that Osimhen joined Turkish champions Galatasaray where he was on loan last season from Napoli.
Galatasaray’s acquisition of Osimhen represents the most expensive signing in Turkish football history, with the club reportedly paying the full €75 million transfer fee upfront alongside his annual €15m net salary.
In a social media video, Oliseh said the likes of Manchester United and PSG who were reported to show interest in the 26-year-old pushed no further due to the cost involved.
The former Nigeria captain estimated the exact cost of obtaining Osimhen at about €187 million over four years.
“Let’s get one thing very clear, for the fans, football is passion, love, but for all the actors involved in football, it is business,” Oliseh said, emphasising the commercial realities of modern football transfers.
The former Ajax midfielder explained that whilst many focused on Napoli’s reported €75 million asking price, the actual cost to acquire and maintain Osimhen was considerably higher due to additional financial commitments.
Oliseh broke down the total package as follows: the €75 million transfer fee, a contractual clause granting Napoli 10% of any future resale, and Osimhen’s substantial salary demands of €15 million net per year.
“The real price for acquiring and maintaining Osimhen is actually €187m,” Oliseh stated, highlighting how the striker’s wages alone would cost approximately €112 million over a four-year contract period.
“The second part – the wages of Osimhen. It’s at €15m net, that’s €28m a year. If you multiply it by four, you are coming to €112million. This has been the major problem for clubs trying to acquire Osimhen,” he added.
