Mikel Obi has revealed reasons Victor Osimhen Chelsea’s move collapsed on transfer deadline day on his Podcast, Obi One Podcast.
Mikel Obi who is a former Chelsea and Super Eagles of Nigeria player, while speaking on the much talked about transfer saga between Victor Osimhen and his club Napoli, and how he eventually ended up with Turkish side Galatasaray, stated that the reigning African Footballer of the year, wanted the Chelsea move and it was never about money for him.
Mikel Obi speaking on the Victor Osimhen deal, said:
“Yeah, we were very, very close. I put it that way, we were very, very close”.
“We were just moments away from getting this deal done, but it was just, slight issues, slight little problems, that we just couldn’t get over the line”.
“And of course, the medical couldn’t be done as well, even if we get the deal done, it was too late. But I know exactly where we stopped. I know exactly where we are with the deal”.
“And if eventually, you know, say, January or whatever, we have to pick it up again, then I know exactly where we are and where we have to start from”, told obionepodcast.
Mikel: “The truth needs to be told because Victor Osimhen has come under a lot of criticism about this, because people don’t know the Inside Out of what happened”.
“Victor really, really wanted to come to the club, and he had to compromise a lot to come to the middle. Because we did reach an agreement in terms of the salary, in terms of what he wants. It was just few minor details here and there that we just couldn’t get over the line”.
“So for me, hearing all that nonsense about a victor being greedy, a lot of people talking down about him, No, I think it’s time, especially Nigerians, it’s time that we support him”.
“It’s time that people around him, friends and Nigerian fans, whoever, get behind him and support him, because that’s what he needs”.
Mikel said: “I hear a lot of people saying this and saying that about Victor and how greedy he is, blah, blah, blah. ‘Take a pay cut and come to Chelsea’ blah, blah, blah, stuff like that.
“I know the kid. I know the boy. I just want to say that that is absolutely not true. Victor is not a greedy boy. He’s not a greedy guy; he only wants to get what he deserves and that’s not a problem.”
During the transfer window, it was reported that Osimhen sought a weekly salary of around £500,000, an extraordinary amount. Although Chelsea was interested in acquiring a striker, they could not meet these demands. Mikel strongly refuted these claims.
“No, he wasn’t asking for all this bt,” Mikel asserted. “I know what happened; I was in the midst of everything. So I can tell everybody that is definitely not true.
“He just wants to play football and get what he deserves and that’s not a problem. A player knowing what he’s worth and demanding to be paid what he’s worth, that’s not a problem.
The 25-year-old who was heavily linked to The Blues and other suitors in France, and Saudi Arabia, had a broken relationship with his Italian employers and tendered a transfer request to leave the club a year after helping Napoli end their 33-year wait for a league title 2022-23 season when he was crowned Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals furious with the Italian side.