Former England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker has claimed that several top European clubs backed out of signing Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen due to concerns about his character.
Before sealing a €75 million move to Turkish giants, Osimhen was one of the most in-demand strikers in world football. Premier League sides like Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain were reportedly interested in securing his signature.
However, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker suggested that Osimhen’s off-field behavior may have raised red flags for some clubs.
“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester in the Europa League,” said Lineker. “He was so impressive, and I’ve followed his career since then. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli — sensational, really.”
“But I hear through the grapevine that some clubs are a bit nervous because he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So apparently, there are slight concerns about his character in that regard.”
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