The summer transfer window often serves up significant bids and resolute rejections, and recent reports from Italy highlight one such instance concerning star striker Victor Osimhen.
According to information circulating, Juventus, through figures like Cristiano Giuntoli, made a concrete attempt to sign the prolific Nigerian forward from Serie A rivals Napoli. The proposal was substantial: a reported €80 million base fee, complemented by an additional €5 million in performance-related bonuses, bringing the total package to a considerable €85 million.
However, Napoli`s response, led by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, was reportedly swift and definitive. The offer was rejected outright. Napoli`s firm stance is that Osimhen is not available for transfer to another Italian club, a position so rigid that even hypothetically higher offers, perhaps reaching €90 million or even €100 million, would reportedly meet the same domestic resistance.
This unequivocal refusal from Napoli underscores their determination to retain key talent, particularly from a direct league competitor. For Juventus, this development effectively closes the door on a potential domestic pursuit of Osimhen. The powerful forward, a crucial asset for the Partenopei, appears set to remain in Naples, with any potential future move seemingly restricted to clubs outside of Italy.
The rejection of an €85 million offer, while significant, illustrates Napoli`s clear priority: maintaining their competitive strength within Serie A and signaling that some players are simply not for sale to rivals, regardless of the financial incentive.
Ewan Marwood