Nigerian football president backs Victor Osimhen to become a hit at Napoli

 

The president of the Nigerian Football Federation has backed Victor Osimhen to enjoy a successful career in the Serie A with Napoli. The 21-year-old is expected to join the Naples outfit in a club-record deal in the coming days and there will be plenty of expectations on his shoulders next season as the main striker.

Speaking to reporters, Amaju Pinnick, who is the president of the NFF, said that Osimhen is an excellent signing for Napoli and the striker has made the right decision to join them, he told: “I think Victor Osimhen is an excellent signing for Napoli. I’ve followed them from when they had Diego Armando Maradona. Naples is a proud city and also in football terms.

Osimhen’s a source of pride for African football. He’s someone who is disciplined but focused on objectives, and if he wants something, he knows how to get it. He made the right decision for his career. I already believe he’ll receive the right support from the club and its fans. Napoli are the right club for him to achieve important results, and Osimhen will always give his best.”

Osimhen only made the move to Lille from Wolfsburg last summer after the club parted ways with Nicolas Pepe. He was able to register 18 goals and six assists across all competitions for the French outfit before the league season was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. It was initially reported that he could make the move to the Premier League this summer with Chelsea and Manchester United said to hold an interest.

However, neither of those clubs made an approach to sign and that was primarily because of the £73m for his signature. Napoli are expected to pay an initial fee of £54m with the remaining £19m likely to be negotiated in the form of add-ons. No official announcement over the transfer has been made, considering the Serie A transfer window does not reopen until September 1.