‘We could have sold him’ – Former Napoli Director admits Victor Osimhen had HUGE offers last summer
Former Napoli sporting director Mauro Meluso has acknowledged that the Serie A club made significant errors in handling Victor Osimhen’s transfer situation.
Speaking to SportItalia (via Corriere dello Sport), Meluso admitted, “We made some mistakes in the management of Osimhen. I arrived at Napoli in mid-July and knew that there had been a super offer from one of the biggest teams in Europe. In hindsight, perhaps we could have sold him.”
Napoli chose to renegotiate Osimhen’s contract instead of accepting the initial offer. The new deal, which runs until 2026, includes a €10 million annual salary and an agreement that Napoli would sell him this summer. However, the expected €130 million bid has not materialized.
Osimhen’s recent form has dipped slightly compared to his previous season, with 17 goals in 32 matches last season versus 31 in 39 the season before. Additionally, a general decline in transfer fees and the high wage demands of his new contract have made him less attractive to potential buyers. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has decreased to €71.1 million from a peak of €81 million.
As a result, Osimhen remains with Napoli, with some sources suggesting he is effectively a “prisoner” at the club. If Napoli continues to demand a high transfer fee, Osimhen might need to explore a move to the Saudi Pro League to secure a transfer.
