Victor Osimhen’s new agent, William D’Avila has revealed that the player would not be weighed down by expectations from a Napoli number 9.
The Nigeria international officially became a Partenopei player on Friday, signing a five-year deal having joined from LOSC Lille in a deal reported to be worth an initial €50 million, potentially rising to €80 million.
For the upcoming season, Osimhen will wear the number 9 kit for the first time in his professional career at club level, but a number he has worn with pride for the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, Olympic Eagles and Super Eagles.
Explaining why his client picked the number 9 shirt, D’Avila told Naple-based Radio Kiss Kiss : “He’s a goal machine.
He chose the number 9, but he doesn’t give a damn about the shirt number. He just thinks about going on the field and scoring.”
D’Avila admitted the trio of club President Aurelius De Laurentiis, manager Gennaro Gattuso and sporting director Giuntoli were key actors in convincing Osimhen to sign.
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“Each of them have been very important. Each of them have talked to Victor and each of them are a part of the reason why he chose Napoli, with all of them he spoke individually,” D’Avila added.
“De Laurentiis told him what is expected of him and he immediately put him at ease with regards to the project. Giuntoli was the key man, he worked hard, non-stop phone calls to convince the player.
“He also had single talks with Gattuso, with whom he immediately developed a great feeling. Special mention also for Maurizio Micheli, one of Giuntoli’s collaborators.
Meanwhile, Napoli President, Laurentiis, believes Osimhen can be a ’30-goal striker’ for the club.
“It is certainly a costly investment, but he is a strong striker who our sports director [Cristiano] Giuntoli advocated,” De Laurentiis told Corriere del Mezzogiorno. “He is a 30-goal striker.
“I met him and he made an excellent impression on me, I hope he quickly settles in our championship.”
Osimhen’s arrival puts a doubt on Arkadiusz Milik’s future, with De Laurentiis confirming the Polish striker is on the market and is reportedly attracting the interest of reigning champions Juventus.
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“Our centre forward [Milik] is on the market, he will go away to the best bidder,” the Napoli president said. “Juve? If they are interested, they will have to pay without discounts If he were to stay he might not be part of Gattuso’s choices.”
Osimhen will meanwhile have fight for a place in the Napoli starting XI alongside the club’s all-time top scorer Dries Mertens. Andrea D’Amico, an associate of D’Avila does not think it will be a problem having both players involved in the game, stressing that it will create a healthy competition.
“It is clear that when you join an important team, there is always competition,” D’Amico told Radio Marte.
“Napoli have had many champions who have been able to coexist to create healthy internal competition. When you compete on many fronts, you need more roses.”