A high-profile transfer shook the world of European football in the summer of 2020 as Victor Osimhen moved from French club Lille OSC to Italian giants Napoli.
The deal was initially reported to be worth a staggering €70 million, potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons, making it one of the most expensive transfers in Serie A history at the time. However, recent revelations have cast a shadow over the transaction, exposing a complex web of financial maneuvers that left Lille with a surprisingly meager profit.
Lille's current president, Olivier Létang, has brought this matter back into the spotlight, revealing that the club earned only €7 million from the sale of Osimhen. This figure is a far cry from the headline-grabbing €70 million and highlights the intricate financial dealings that often accompany such high-value transfers.
According to Létang, the discrepancy between the reported transfer fee and the actual profit for Lille can be attributed to a combination of commissions, intermediary fees, and so-called "fictitious capital gains."
The deal involved not just cash but also the inclusion of four players from Napoli: Ciro Palmieri, Claudio Manzi, Orestis Karnezis, and Luigi Liguori. These players were collectively valued at €20 million, an inflated sum that served to mask the true cost of the transaction.
Except for Greek goalkeeper Karnezis, the other players were relatively unknown and had little impact on professional soccer at the time. This tactic, while not uncommon in high-level negotiations, raises massive ethical and legal questions about the transparency of such deals.
Létang's revelations have reignited debates within the football community and could potentially lead to new investigations into the practices surrounding player transfers.
The use of "trade tokens" or overvalued assets to reduce the financial impact on a club's accounting books is a form of accounting trickery that, while legal, often skirts the boundaries of ethical conduct. The net profit of just €7 million for Lille underscores the fragility and complexity of this particular transaction.
The controversy surrounding Osimhen's transfer is not new to the courtrooms. Earlier this year, an investigation into fictitious capital gains was closed by accusing Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis of false accounting. These accusations highlight the ongoing challenges faced by football authorities in ensuring transparency and fairness in the transfer market.
Despite the off-field controversies, Victor Osimhen's on-field performances have been nothing short of remarkable. During his time at Napoli, he became one of the most highly-rated forwards in Serie A, playing a crucial role in Napoli's historic 2022-23 Serie A title win, their first in 33 years. Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 league matches that season, cementing his status as a key player for the Italian club.
However, his journey with Napoli took an unexpected turn in 2024 when he was loaned to Turkish side Galatasaray. This move came after Osimhen was frozen out of Napoli's plans, following failed transfer attempts to clubs like Chelsea and Al-Ahli. Galatasaray seized the opportunity to sign the Nigerian striker on a season-long loan, offering him the chance to play European football in the Europa League.
Galatasaray agreed to pay Osimhen €6 million in wages for the 2024-25 campaign, with Napoli covering his salary for July and August. The loan agreement did not include an option or obligation to buy, leaving Osimhen's long-term future uncertain. Despite interest from several top European clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and PSG, Osimhen's move to Galatasaray marked a surprising twist in his career trajectory.
Comments