Victor Osimhen’s management team has revealed that the Super Eagles forward was a wanted man by Spanish heavyweights Barcelona, before making the move to Napoli.
Osimhen sealed a five-year deal worth up to €80 million from Lille to the Serie A this transfer window.
Osimhen has already started on a bright note for his new club, after scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist in an 11-0 friendly win over Italian fourth division side L’Aquila during a training camp at Castel di Sangro last Friday.
And now, Roberto Calenda, who is in the forward’s management team believes that Barca wanted Osimhen as a replacement for their star striker Luis Suarez
“I usually never talk about these things, out of respect for professionalism and the club. It is right that Napoli say things as they went, they are the main players,” Calenda told Radio Marte.
“I can say that it was a well-conducted negotiation by the parties, we started from a distance. The signing took place with constant communication and we were good at keeping track of it.
“[It was a] difficult operation, Tottenham and Liverpool wanted Osimhen until the end, even Barcelona initially wanted him instead of Suarez. Napoli, however, did everything. They wanted it and took it.
“The boy is an exemplary professional, very serious and very serene. This is important when you get to teams where there have been players who have made football history,” he continued.
“The coach’s words are right: you have to wait and give him time because he comes from far away, he must adapt to our championship and our customs. But without a shadow of a doubt, he has great talent, and I am sure he will prove it because he has some important characteristics.”
The new Serie A season will kickstart on September 19.
