John Obi Mikel has revealed he played a key role in trying to get Victor Osimhen to Chelsea.
The Napoli and Nigeria striker was heavily linked to the goal-shy Premier League side for much of the summer transfer window, but ended up joining Galatasaray on loan.
Given Osimhen’s role in ending Napoli’s 33-year wait for a league title as Serie A’s top scorer in the 2022/23 campaign, it seemed rather remarkable that he landed in the Turkish Super Lig which is ranked as the tenth best in Europe.
But as former Blue Mikel revealed, it wasn’t for the want of trying from either Chelsea or Osimhen.
“I mean, a lot happened, and I think it’s an open secret that I was involved in the deal,” he said on his Obi One Podcast.
“I was involved in trying to make sure that I get Victor to the club. A lot happened, it was very interesting, because I think I hear a lot of people saying this and saying that about Victor and and how greedy he is and stuff like that.
“I just want to categorically say it here that I know the kid since from the very first day he joined the national team, my relationship with him has been very, very good. And since then we’ve kept in contact and been friends.
“I know what he’s capable of, and I just want to say that is absolutely not true. Victor is not a greedy boy. He only wants to get what he deserves. And that’s not a problem.
“He wasn’t asking for all that bulls*** [£500,000 per-week]. I know what happened. I was there, in the midst of everything. So I can tell everybody that that is definitely not true.
“He’s not a greedy boy, he just wants to play football and get what he deserves, a player knowing what he’s worth and asking to be paid what he’s worth is not a problem.”
Osimhen was heavily-linked to both Chelsea and Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli during the final days of the transfer window, and talkSPORT understands that he rejected the latter approach.
Meanwhile, personal terms are understood to have held things up for the Blues, something Mikel alluded to while suggesting that the deal may not be over.
“We were very very close to getting this deal done but there were slight issues and problems that we couldn’t get over the line,” Mikel said. “Of course the medical couldn’t be done even if the deal got done.
“I know exactly where we stopped and exactly where we are with the deal, if eventually in January we have to pick it up again I know exactly where we are and where we have to start from.
“I was the guy right in the middle of everything and there were a couple of days where I didn’t sleep.”
