Latest news with #VictorOsimhen
BBC News
an hour ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Man Utd or Barca' - wia Osimhen dey go next?
Nigeria boss Eric Chelle dey expect Europe top sides to show interest for Victor Osimhen afta di striker help fire Galatasaray win di Turkish title. Di 26-year-old dey set to return to parent club Napoli afta e score 37 goals for 41 games during dis season loan spell wit di Istanbul giants. E get one year remaining for im contract for Italy, but e dey expected to leave Napoli as e no dey part of coach Antonio Conte plans. Wit im future undecided, Osimhen don dey left out of di Super Eagles squad for di international friendly away against Russia on Friday. "Victor is, for me, di best striker for di world," Chelle tell BBC Sport Africa. "For am e dey difficult to come for dis game becos e play a season wit a lot of pressure. "Di reality na say transfer window dey. During dis time, a player like am no dey focused at 100%. "I need to protect am physically and mentally, becos maybe e go [and get a transfer move]. "Maybe a club like Manchester United. Or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. So e need to dey focused on dat." Osimhen wan score 'even wen e dey sleep' Osimhen, an Under-17 World Cup winner for 2015, na second on Nigeria all-time list of top scorers wit 26 goals. E spearhead di Super Eagles attack for di 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, wia di West Africans finish as runners-up, and e dey crucial to bring back di hopes of reaching di 2026 Fifa World Cup. Nigeria only pick up three points from dia first four matches wen Osimhen dey absent wit injury, but di striker score three goals wen e return for March as di Super Eagles secure a win ova Rwanda and a draw against Zimbabwe. Chelle say e "neva see a competitor" like di former Wolfsburg and Lille front man. "E wan win evritin during training. E crazy," Chelle, 47 tok. "Wen di training session finish, e want to stay on di pitch and score again and again. "I tink maybe even wen e sleep e wan score too." Russia a 'great nation of football' Nigeria travel to Moscow afta winning di Unity Cup friendly tournament on Saturday. Di Super Eagles overcome fierce local rivals Ghana 2-1 last Wednesday and den beat Jamaica 5-4 on penalties afta a 2-2 draw for di final. Russia dey banned from competitive internationals following di invasion of Ukraine for February 2022, yet Chelle still expect a challenging encounter as e build towards di next round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers for September. Dose games, at home against Rwanda and away for South Africa, go dey crucial as Nigeria look to bridge di six-point gap to Group C leaders Bafana Bafana. "Russia na great nation of football," Chelle tok. "Dem need to play some international games becos wit di war, e dey difficult for dem. Dem get lots of great players for dia league. "I tink a lot of pipo go come to watch di game. "Di reality na to work for September, for di next window for di World Cup qualifiers. Dis na our goal."
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Maybe Man Utd or Barca' - where next for Osimhen?
Nigeria boss Eric Chelle expects Europe's top sides to show interest in Victor Osimhen after the striker helped fire Galatasaray to the Turkish 26-year-old is set to return to parent club Napoli after scoring 37 goals in 41 games during this season's loan spell with the Istanbul has one year remaining on his contract in Italy, but is expected to depart Napoli as he is not part of coach Antonio Conte's his future undecided, Osimhen has been left out of the Super Eagles squad for the international friendly away against Russia on Friday."Victor is, for me, the best striker in the world," Chelle told BBC Sport Africa."For him it is difficult to come for this game because he played a season with a lot of pressure."The reality is there is a transfer window. During this time, a player like him is not focused at 100%."I need to protect him physically and mentally, because maybe he will go [and get a transfer move]."Maybe a club like Manchester United. Or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. So he needs to be focused on that." Osimhen wants to score 'even when he sleeps' Osimhen, an Under-17 World Cup winner in 2015, is second on Nigeria's all-time list of top scorers with 26 spearheaded the Super Eagles attack at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where the West Africans finished as runners-up, and has been crucial in reviving the side's hopes of reaching the 2026 Fifa World only picked up three points from their first four matches when Osimhen was absent with injury, but the striker netted three goals when he returned in March as the Super Eagles secured a win over Rwanda and a draw against says he has "never seen a competitor" like the former Wolfsburg and Lille front man."He wants to win everything during training. It's crazy," Chelle, 47, added."When the training session finishes he wants to stay on the pitch and score again and again."I think maybe even when he sleeps he wants to score too." Russia a 'great nation of football' Nigeria travel to Moscow after winning the Unity Cup friendly tournament on Super Eagles overcame fierce local rivals Ghana 2-1 last Wednesday and then beat Jamaica 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the remain banned from competitive internationals following the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, yet Chelle still expects a challenging encounter as he builds towards the next round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers in games, at home against Rwanda and away in South Africa, will be crucial as Nigeria look to bridge the six-point gap to Group C leaders Bafana Bafana."Russia is a great nation of football," Chelle said."They need to play some international games because [with] the war it is difficult for them. They have lots of great players in their league."I think a lot of people will come to watch the game."The reality is we work for September, for the next window for the World Cup qualifiers. This is our goal."
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Champions League club make contact with Rasmus Hojlund's camp over summer move amid doubts over £72m Man United flop's future
Inter Milan are stepping up their interest in Rasmus Hojlund, who could be allowed to leave Manchester United for a cut-price fee. Mail Sport reported previously how Napoli, Juventus and Inter have been watching his progress aware that the 22-year old had greater success in Italy. Inter have made contact with his entourage and want to ascertain a price from United over the coming days. Any deal would help free up cash for United's rebuild. Ruben Amorim 's side struggled to score goals in last season's disastrous Premier League campaign as they managed to find the back of the net just 44 times in their 38 matches. Hojlund contributed to just four of those and mustered just one in a four-month dry spell between December and April — a woeful return for a player who cost £72million from Atalanta in 2023. Amorim has already taken a step towards addressing Man United's attacking problems with the signing of Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m. The news comes just days after Hojlund was linked with another Italian club, Napoli. United reportedly sent recruitment planner Matt Hargreaves to sweet talk Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis and sporting director Giovanni Manna. The Premier League club were reputedly hoping to use Hojlund as a makeweight in a deal to sign Victor Osimhen. Now, however, Inter Milan are in the box seat to buy the 22-year-old from United.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
INEOS devise four-man shortlist of Delap alternatives – including 38-goal PL frontman and Osimhen
INEOS have had to go back to the drawing board after missing out on the signing of first-choice centre-forward target Liam Delap. Manchester United were informed this week that the Ipswich Town star had set his sights on a move to Chelsea, rebuffing interest from the Reds, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. Advertisement Chelsea have now taken the necessary steps to activate Delap's £30 million release clause before he'll formally join Enzo Maresca's already-stacked attacking options. United made to re-think transfer plans following Delap snub The Stamford Bridge outfit are preparing to add Liam Delap to their ranks. (Photo by) Now, it's a case of where United turn next. Their failure to qualify for the Champions League has made their pursuit of ambitious targets considerably more complicated; it's thought that's what deterred Delap from making the move after holding positive talks with the club over an Old Trafford switch. According to CaughtOffside, key decision-makers are racking their brains over potential forwards they could realistically welcome this summer, with Victor Osimhen, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Randal Kolo Muani and Jonathan David all of interest – the latter will be available for free ahead of his Lille release at the end of June. Who could lead Ruben Amorim's frontline next season? Of the quartet, Mateta is the only Premier League-proven option, having spent the last five seasons plying his trade at Crystal Palace. Advertisement Targeting players with respectable top-flight records has been an ongoing theme for INEOS in the lead-up to the window opening; Matheus Cunha is on the cusp of officially signing for United, while Bryan Mbeumo, Eberechi Eze and Emiliano Martinez have all been linked thus far. CaughtOffside also adds that United are long-standing admirers of Benjamin Sesko. However, the youngster is closing in on a move to Arsenal, who could be forced to fork out a fee as high as £75m to prise him from RB Leipzig, where he's tied down to a contract until 2029. More Stories / Latest News INEOS devise four-man shortlist of Delap alternatives – including 38-goal PL frontman and Osimhen Advertisement May 31 2025, 14:43 ESPN journo: United should move for 'proven' Liverpool ace who wants out this summer, he'd replace £47m let-down May 31 2025, 12:52 League winners now trying to 'soften up' United to agree £40m deal on their terms, negotiations underway May 31 2025, 9:20
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
🎥 Mertens in tears with Ciro and Lion King 🦁 Retirement ahead? 😢
Yesterday the Turkish Süper Lig came to an end: Galatasaray, already champions for weeks, finished a triumphant season with a 2-0 victory over Istanbul Başakşehir, with two former Napoli players, Dries Mertens and Victor Osimhen, scoring the goals. The most important moment of the match came in the 79th minute, when Mertens was substituted, enjoying the applause of the Ali Semi Yen stadium for the last time. Advertisement The player was immediately lifted in triumph by his teammates, amid ovations and chants from the stadium, while the announcer called him a legend and used the nickname the Belgian earned during his time at Napoli—which later became his son's name—"Ciro" Mertens. Speaking of his son Ciro, the "Lion King"-style welcome he received from the stadium will go down in history. After the match, during the celebration dedicated to him at Ali Semi Yen together with his wife and son, Mertens could not hold back his tears. The club's farewell message was also moving: "Thank you, Dries. Some goodbyes cannot be put into words. When he arrived three years ago, Dries Mertens was not just a player, but a true leader, a big brother, an example. He was the man who changed games with his courage, his intelligence, and his self-confidence. He took responsibility in difficult moments, guided the young players, and always gave everything for the team. He was happiest when motivating even from the sidelines." Advertisement "Dries touched our hearts even off the pitch with his modesty, sincerity, and his smile. He was one of those who most believed in unity and solidarity, and this made Galatasaray more than a club. Now it's time to part ways. But your name, your memories, your leadership, your humanity have already been written in golden letters in the history of this jersey, Dries. Thank you for everything, we are so happy that you became one of us." Mertens opened the scoring in the match (which also celebrated the retirement of Galatasaray captain Fernando Muslera, a club legend with 15 years of service) with a penalty in the 17th minute. Now it remains to be seen what the future holds for the Belgian, with retirement from professional football being the most likely scenario. The player has even stated that he wants to live in Naples after he leaves football. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here. 📸 Ahmad Mora - 2024 Getty Images
