Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has rejected an insanely lucrative offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The news is excellent for Manchester United, who have been credited with a strong interest in signing the Nigerian marksman.
The reliable Romano posted on X this afternoon that “Despite agreement club to club with Napoli for €75m fee, Osimhen says no to the Saudi Pro League club.
“Galatasaray will insist to sign him with race now open again.”
🚨🚫 BREAKING: Victor Osimhen has rejected Al Hilal proposal.
Despite agreement club to club with Napoli for €75m fee, Osimhen says no to the Saudi Pro League club. ❌
Galatasaray will insist to sign him with race now open again. 👀 pic.twitter.com/XmUTcmfNxk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 8, 2025
As United’s own Bruno Fernandes did last month, Osimhen has turned down an eye-watering salary – in this case a reported £648,000 per week – in order to pursue a transfer to one of Europe’s top clubs.
Whether that turns out to be Galatasaray, where he spent six months on loan last season, remains to be seen.
Osi has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League and indeed that Champions League football was not a priority for him.
United can probably stump up the £63 million required by Napoli, but questions remain as to whether they can reach an agreement with the player on salary and, indeed, whether in fact they want the player in their ranks at all.
The 26 year old’s quality is without question, but some reports have suggested that he does not fit the profile that United are looking for, while others have said his salary demands are too high.
Clearly, though, if it was all about money, he would be on his way to Riyadh already.
Journalist Ben Jacobs notes that “European suitors had felt for months that Saudi was his most likely destination,” and that “Premier League clubs felt they couldn’t match the package Osimhen was looking for, including Chelsea who tried last summer, but with Saudi off the table, Osimhen’s is going to now a all options and take his time.”
Jacobs also suggests Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain could still be in the mix.
Victor Osimhen’s Al-Hilal rejection makes his future an open race. European suitors had felt for months that Saudi was his most likely destination.
Al-Hilal made multiple offers, and Simone Inzaghi was even part of the pitch.
However, no green light despite a €75m package in… pic.twitter.com/2MutvFPEK1
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 8, 2025
It seems almost impossible that the deal with Al-Hilal will now be resurrected, both because he has formally turned down the offer of a salary even higher than the one he was demanding, and because the Saudis wanted a decision in time for the Club World Cup, the deadline for which is Tuesday.
Many United fans will be clutching firmly onto this straw of news now and hoping that INEOS can seize the opportunity to land a world-class striker for Ruben Amorim.
Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
