By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)
Nigerian goalscoring sensation, Victor Osimhen was wanted by top European sides, Barcelona, Liverpool and Tottenham who all tried to sign the then Lille top scorer.
An agent who is a member of Osimhen’s reps, Roberto Calenda confirmed that Spanish LaLiga giants, Barcelona had wanted the Super Eagles star to replace Luiz Suarez at the Nou Camp.
Osimhen who penned a 5-year deal with Italian Serie A side, Napoli was also on the wishlists of top English Premier League sides, Liverpool and Tottenham before he eventually signed a record 70million deal with the Blues.
And following the move that made Osimhen Africa’s most-expensive player ever, Calenda, while speaking on Radio Marte, gives insight into the behind the scene happenings before Napoli eventually won the race for the 21-year old’s signature.
“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 and I can say that it was a well-conducted negotiation by the parties,” Calenda told Radio Marte.
“The signing took place outside the giant eye of communication and we were good at keeping track of it. It was a difficult operation, Tottenham and Liverpool wanted Osimhen until the last.
“Even Barcelona initially wanted him in place of Suarez. Napoli, however, did everything, they wanted it and took it,” Calenda revealed.
Osimhen’s who scored 18 goals in 38 apperances for French Ligue 1 side last season has already given Napoli a token of what to come after scoring a hat-trick, plus two assists in his first non-competitive game against L’Aquila last weekend.
