Victjson Osimhen reportedly had the chance to join Manchester United before he moved to Napoli - but opted against the move because he did not want to compete with one player
14:43, 21 Jun 2025
Victor Osimhen has been linked with Manchester United and it's not the first time
Victor Osimhen has been linked with Manchester United and it's not the first time(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Victor Osimhen once turned down a move to Manchester United out of respect for a fellow Nigerian player, stating he had "too much respect" to vie with him for a starting position.
This was back in 2020, just before his transfer to Napoli. It was during his time at Lille that Osimhen first made waves, and his goal-scoring prowess caught the attention of several clubs, including United, but it was the Italian side who ultimately secured his signature.
Osimhen's decision not to join the Premier League giants was influenced by the fact that they had Odion Ighalo on their roster at the time. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raised a few eyebrows when he signed the ex-Watford striker to bolster the team's attack.
Ighalo started off well, but his form dipped and he left Manchester with a record of five goals in 23 matches.
However, he was one of the leading Nigerian players of his era and Osimhen held great admiration for the player who was nine years his senior.
Victor Osimhen was a goal machine at Napoli before his fallout with the club
Victor Osimhen was a goal machine at Napoli before his fallout with the club(Image: Getty Images)
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The Napoli striker felt he couldn't challenge his compatriot for a starting place, knowing that inevitably one of them would be left out, which spurred his move to Italy, reports the Mirror.
Andrew Osimhen, brother to the African icon, explained what happened to Complete Sports: "It is very true that Manchester United wanted Victor.
"But he told me something like he had too much respect for Odion Ighalo to be competing for shirts with his senior colleague.
Odion Ighalo in his shortlived spell at Manchester United
Odion Ighalo in his shortlived spell at Manchester United(Image: PA)
"My brother holds Ighalo in high esteem and he just didn't see himself going to Old Trafford to battle for a striking role with the highest goalscorer at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt."
Fast forward five years and it looks like Osimhen could still end up in Manchester. Despite leading Napoli to Serie A glory a while back, the sharpshooter finds himself out of favour as long as Antonio Conte's calling the shots.
With Romelu Lukaku being Conte's main man upfront, Osimhen was shipped off on loan last season, yet he kept banging them in for Galatasaray.
Now back in Italy, he's on the transfer list, waiting for the right club to snap him up.
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He's already rejected a switch to Saudi Arabia this summer, keen as mustard to stick around in Europe, and even ex-United legend Rio Ferdinand's been singing his praises, suggesting he'd be a top signing.
Ferdinand put it out there, saying: "I think if I'm looking at the market now and I had to pick him [Viktor Gyokeres] or Osimhen, I'd probably pick Osimhen because of that experience."