President Muhammadu Buhari is excited about Napoli’s move to sign Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen.
The Lille of France striker is expected to finalise a move to the Serie A side in an initial deal estimated at €60m, the record signing of a Nigerian footballer.
Osimhen, 21, joined Lille in July 2019 and scored 18 goals in all competitions before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended the 2019/2020 Ligue 1 season.
His pending transfer to Napoli is expected to rise to €81 with add-ons, €1 million above the figure Arsenal shelved to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund in 2018.
Reacting to the pending transfer, Deputy Ambassador to Italy, Franklin Ogunyemi, said Nigerians, including President Buhari and embassy staff, were eagerly anticipating it.
According to The Punch, Ogunyemi made the disclosure while discussing the transfer during an appearance on a Naples radio station Radio Kiss Kiss.
“We know that the Head of State of our country, Muhammadu Buhari, is also happy with this transfer. Osimhen is a young player, but already very strong.
“He will perhaps be the highest-paid African player, a sign that we are talking about a very talented boy.
“He is strong, fast, and tactical. He has a characteristic of the Nigerian population: he never gives up. For these reasons, I compare him to Ronaldo.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is happy with it, thanks because in turn, it will find a player improved by the strength of an extraordinary league like the Italian one,” Ogunyemi said.
He described the atmosphere in Naples and the large Nigerian population in the city as factors that would aid Osimhen’s success when he is eventually signed.
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