“It didn’t make sense” – Luis Enrique takes subtle dig at Napoli’s price tag for Osimhen after failed transfer

Paris Saint-Germain’s manager, Luis Enrique, appeared to express his frustration over the club’s inability to sign players during the summer transfer window, Soccernet.ng reports.

Indirectly pointing to the exorbitant demands of Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis for any club who is willing to sign the Super Eagles attacker.

Speaking at a recent press conference, the former Barcelona forward dropped a hint at the challenges PSG faced in securing a top striker during the summer window.

“We wanted to hire some players, but their price was too high. It didn’t make sense. There wasn’t a real opportunity. If the market window had allowed us to take a player with 50 goals per season, we would have done it, but the reality was different.” he said.

While Enrique did not name Osimhen specifically, it is widely believed that the Nigerian forward was one of PSG’s primary targets following the exit of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.

Osimhen, who scored 31 goals last season, was reportedly on the radar of both the French League giants and Chelsea until the closing stages of the transfer window.

However, the clubs were unable to meet Napoli’s high valuation, as well as Osimhen’s contract believed to be set by de Laurentiis, which ultimately derailed any potential deal.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

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  • All those criticizing osimhen, knows very little about how football business is done. Football is not the running around you see on the pitch. it's not mere entertainment. Napoli fc is deliberately out pricing osimhen, and puting him in a you can't be bought and you are at our mercy situation. They can't do that to European players. When African players play for france, they get a leverage. Osimhen took the best decision. He wouldn't be snubbed in the national team. Mercy refused to go to Saudi Arabia because he was offered a contract with a sports wear compy that will be paying him for decades after retirement. Janet Jackson married to get 200 millions USD and pocket money for life. one single injury and a players days are over. Mbappe has made all the money, he can look for trophies. If he played for cameroun, which snubbed him, he would now be an outcast. can't most africans think right. Football is money. Playing days can be over suddenly. By going to Saudi, he can sign a contract that removes him from the grasp of Napoli, make lot of money. Few years later. He comes back to an elite club and sign a convenient contract, not as a hungry player. If he can't, then he has his bloated bank account.

  • It's laughable to offer an African player of the year a four month contract, or to ask him to pay part of his purchasing fee from his own pocket, in his prime as a highly sought after footballer, as some Nigerians have suggested. That is humiliation, handed over to a club that has benefited so largely from his expertise. Bravo!!, Bravo!!! Osimhen, shine on!!!!!!

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Ayomide Oguntimehin

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