Why Man United failed to sign Osimhen — McCarthy

By Ayomiposi Ajidahun 

Manchester United’s former first-team coach, Benni McCarthy, has said that the decision not to sign Victor Osimhen was largely due to concerns over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) schedule. 

Benni revealed that the club was hesitant to invest around £100 million in a striker who would be unavailable mid-season during AFCON.

Osimhen had drawn strong interest from Europe’s top clubs after netting 26 league goals in the 2022-23 campaign, inspiring Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. 

Benni, who was part of the coaching staff at Old Trafford under then manager Erik ten Hag, said he was involved in discussions over striker recruitment and believed Osimhen would “fit perfectly” at United.

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However, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) schedule, which happens every two years and clashes with the European season, made United rethink signing Osimhen. He was initially top of their list, but they looked elsewhere.

“If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for Afcon,” McCarthy told Newsday on the BBC World Service.

“I think he would have been very successful there. But it [Afcon] was a big stumbling block.

“Losing him for so many important matches, the team suffers from not having the main striker there.

“So the decision was made. Literally [a] big part was because of the AFCON, and Victor Osimhen’s name got scratched off – not a player of interest because of that.”

United instead secured the signing of Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta for £72m in August 2023. 

The Denmark international went on to score 26 goals in 95 appearances before joining Napoli on loan last September.

Osimhen, meanwhile, was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2023. He later departed Napoli to join Galatasaray on loan in September 2024, and the 27-year-old completed a permanent move to the Turkish side last July.