Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:35 pm
Victor Osimhen has slammed Nigerian media over a report purportedly projecting him to be aiming for the legendary Diego Maradona’s achievements at his new club Napoli of Italy.
Napoli completed the transfer agreement for the 21-year-old for fee plus an array of potential bonuses that takes the deal up to €50million (about N23billion).
The 21-year-old who scored 18 goals and made six assists across competitions for French club Lille last season is expected to inject fresh rhythm into the Napoli attack next season.
Osimhen who is the record scorer at the Fifa U17 World Cup having scored 10 goals at the 2015 edition of the tournament in Chile remains the focus player in Italy next season.
However, a report had surfaced that the player claimed he hopes to emulate football icon Maradona at the club.
Diego Maradona joined Napoli on July 5, 1984 where he was welcomed by 75,000 fans at his presentation at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples and went on to help the club win their first ever Serie A title during the 1986/1987 season.
He also guided the club to the Coppa Italia in 1987 as well as a second place finish in the Coppa Italia in 1989). Maradona captained the Parthenopeans to win the UEFA Cup in 1989 and the Italian Supercup in 1990.
He went on to score a total of 115 goals for the Italian club and the jersey no.10 has been officially retired on his behalf.
Osimhen, who was officially unveiled at the same club on July 31, 2020 charged at a report by a popular Nigerian outlet citing German medium Sport 1 which quoted him as saying “I am proud to join a club, who have seen great players like Maradona, Higuain and Cavani. I also want to go into the club’s history.
“I want to have a good Serie A and also help the club in the Europa League.”
However the Nigerian striker took to social media to deny he never granted such an interview.
“I never said such a thing,” he replied on Twitter. “Y’all copy paste journalist just like to fabricate lie. Since the passing of my late father, I haven’t grant (ed) any interview whatsoever. Stop this nonsense else na thunder go fire una.”
