One of the biggest stories in soccer this summer is about a star player named Victor Osimhen, and the big question is: where will he go next? Many clubs want him, but Juventus, one of Italy’s most famous teams, are trying hard to bring him in. The problem? There are a lot of things standing in their way.
Let’s break it down so you can understand the drama and the facts behind the story!
Who is Victor Osimhen?
Victor Osimhen is a super talented Nigerian striker (a striker is a player whose main job is to score goals). He’s known for being fast, strong, and deadly in front of goal. In fact, he was one of the top scorers in the Italian Serie A during the 2022-23 season and helped Napoli win the Serie A title that year — their first since the days of legendary player Diego Maradona!
Osimhen is just 26 years old and has already played in big leagues like France’s Ligue 1, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Italy’s Serie A. He also had a loan spell at Galatasaray in Turkey, where he played well. With all his experience and talent, it’s no wonder so many big clubs want him.
Juventus Are Leading the Race… But There’s Trouble
Juventus, also known as Juve, is a club based in Turin, Italy, and they have a long history of success. They’ve won over 30 Serie A titles and have had famous players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon, and Andrea Pirlo.
Juve really want Osimhen. Reports say that they even contacted him quietly before the summer transfer window officially opened. At that time, Juventus’ sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli was leading the charge and showing serious interest.
But now there’s a new director in town — Damien Comolli — and the club has to reorganize their strategy. That means they’re still interested, but they have to figure out how to actually make it happen.
Money, Money, Money: The €75 Million Problem
Here’s one of the biggest issues: Osimhen has a release clause of €75 million. A release clause is a set price that a club must pay if they want to buy a player — no negotiations, just pay the price and the player can leave.
That’s around $80 million or £63 million, which is a lot of money, especially for an Italian team like Juventus that isn’t in the best financial shape right now.
Foreign clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, or Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia can pay this amount more easily. Juventus, however, are trying to find a creative solution. Maybe a player exchange or a deal paid in parts — they are looking for a way to avoid paying all of that €75 million at once.
Napoli vs Juventus: A Bitter Rivalry
Even if Juventus figure out the money, there’s still another big roadblock: Napoli doesn’t really like Juventus.
In Italian soccer, there are a lot of rivalries, and Napoli vs Juventus is one of the most intense. Some people at Napoli don’t even want to negotiate with Juve, even if the offer is good.
This bad blood could make it really hard for the two clubs to work together on a transfer deal.
Other Clubs in the Race
Juventus aren’t the only ones chasing Osimhen. Here’s a look at the other teams trying to sign him:
🇸🇦 Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Al Hilal is one of the richest clubs in the Saudi Pro League, and they can easily afford Osimhen’s transfer fee and his salary. But here’s the twist — Osimhen already said no to them once. Even though they offer big money, he still wants to play in a competitive league, not just the richest one.
Still, Al Hilal hasn’t given up. They’re trying to convince him again.
Galatasaray (Turkey)
Osimhen spent some time on loan at Galatasaray and played well there. The Turkish club hopes he will choose to come back permanently, but they don’t have as much money as some of the other clubs in this race.
Manchester United (England)
Man United are another giant club that likes Osimhen, but his salary demands are very high. Reports say he wants around £400,000 per week, which is almost $510,000! That’s more than most Man United players make.
Still, there’s some hope that he could lower his salary if the rest of the deal is right for him — like playing time, trophies, and bonuses.
Liverpool (England)
Liverpool just won the Premier League again, and they also had talks about Osimhen recently. It wasn’t a long conversation, but his name came up in internal meetings. Liverpool are watching the situation closely.
Soccer Fact: Why Osimhen is So Valuable
Let’s take a look at why Osimhen is considered one of the top strikers in the world:
In the 2022-23 Serie A season, he scored 26 goals in 32 matches, leading Napoli to their first title in 33 years.
He also scored important goals in the Champions League, helping Napoli reach the quarterfinals.
For the Nigerian national team, Osimhen has scored over 20 goals, and he helped them finish as runners-up in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
He’s known for his speed, finishing skills, and being great in the air (he scores a lot of headers!).
What Happens Next?
Right now, Osimhen’s future is still undecided. Juventus want him, but they have to deal with the high price, Napoli’s anger, and other big clubs offering better deals.
The transfer window is just beginning, and more twists are sure to come. Will he stay in Italy? Will he go to the Premier League? Or could he accept a big-money move to Saudi Arabia?
Whatever happens, one thing is for sure: the race to sign Victor Osimhen is one of the hottest stories in soccer this summer.
Final Thought
For young fans like you, this is a great story to follow if you’re interested in how big clubs make decisions, how player contracts work, and how rivalries can make things more exciting (and more complicated!).
So keep your eyes on Osimhen — the next time you watch him play, he might be wearing a different jersey!
