Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen has revealed shocking details about his 2020 transfer to Napoli, claiming he was pushed into the move while mourning his dying father. According to reports from La Repubblica, leaked documents show that the striker felt sidelined and ignored by agents and club officials during the high-profile deal.
Speaking to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, Osimhen explained that he never saw a proper contract and was forced into negotiations he didn’t consent to. “I just wanted to see my father, not talk about football,” he said, describing intense pressure from his then-agent Jean Gerard and discussions involving Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and Lille executives.
The striker claims the timing was callous. When his father passed away, Osimhen says he was ordered to fly to Naples immediately, with no consideration for his grief. He described being shown only “a piece of paper, a pseudo-agreement,” which left him suspicious of manipulation. Frustrated, he eventually cut ties with Gerard and appointed William D’Avila, who helped finalize the deal in Lille by July 2020.
The revelations come amid an ongoing investigation by Italian prosecutors into Napoli and Lille over allegations of false accounting in the €70 million transfer. Authorities claim both clubs inflated the value of fringe players to balance their books. Documents and WhatsApp messages reportedly indicate senior officials were aware of the questionable structure, with three youth players included in the deal—each valued between €4 million and €7 million—having never played for Lille.
Osimhen’s testimony casts a harsh light on one of Europe’s most controversial transfers in recent memory, raising questions about ethics, agent conduct, and club accountability.
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