Osimhen's Agent Shuts Down Al Ahli Move, Demands Respect for Client

• Victor Osimhen's agent, Roberto Calenda, rejects Al Ahli's €65m bid, stating Osimhen wants to stay in Europe.
• Napoli must find a new solution to offload Osimhen, as his departure is needed to complete the signing of Romelu Lukaku.

In a surprise twist, Victor Osimhen's agent, Roberto Calenda, has dismissed the possibility of the Nigerian striker joining Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli this summer. This comes despite Al Ahli's €65m bid and Napoli's willingness to sell.

Calenda released a statement on X, emphasizing Osimhen's commitment to Napoli and his desire to continue making history in Europe. He stressed that Osimhen, the African Footballer of the Year and eighth in the Ballon d'Or rankings, deserves respect and balance.

The agent's statement suggests that Osimhen will not be forced out to make room for new signings, including Romelu Lukaku. With the transfer window closing in, a compromise must be reached between Osimhen and Napoli.

"Osimhen is a Napoli player, with a contract recently renewed with mutual satisfaction. 

"He made history and when there were major offers (also this year) we always accepted the club's decisions.

"As I said, it is not a package to be shipped far away to make room for new prophets. 

"Victor was elected African footballer of the year, eighth at the Ballon d'Or, he still has so much to do in Europe. There is need for respect and balance."

Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Al Ahli's bid was the only concrete offer for Osimhen, but the striker's reluctance to join the Saudi club has thrown a spanner in the works.

Napoli's need to offload Osimhen to complete the Lukaku deal has added pressure to the situation. However, Calenda's stance has made it clear that Osimhen's future will not be decided solely by the club's interests.

🇮🇹 Osimhen è un giocatore del Napoli, con un contratto rinnovato recentemente con reciproca soddisfazione. Ha fatto la storia in azzurro e quando ci sono state offerte importanti (anche quest’anno) abbiamo sempre accettato le decisioni del club.
Come ho già detto non è un pacco…

— Roberto Calenda (@RobertoCalenda) August 26, 2024