Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently revealed a significant regret in the ongoing saga surrounding Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. According to the club chief, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had once tabled a staggering €200 million offer for a package deal that included both Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Despite the enticing financial proposal, De Laurentiis turned down the deal, a decision driven by his loyalty to then-manager Antonio Conte and a promise to keep the star striker at Napoli.
De Laurentiis reflected on the lost opportunity in an interview with Corriere della Sera, admitting he felt compelled to honor his commitment to Conte. He said, “PSG had offered over €200 million for the Kvara and Osimhen package. However, I had promised Conte I would keep him, and I didn’t feel like going back on my word.” The president indicated that had the funds been accepted, the club might have invested in other players, including signing Alexander Gyökeres.
The rejection of this mega-offer has since become a focal point in discussions about Osimhen’s future at Napoli. The striker, once a jewel in the Serie A club's crown, found himself loaned to Galatasaray in the summer of 2024 amid a complex shuffle of transfer interests. While Kvaratskhelia did eventually make the move to PSG in January 2025, Osimhen’s path has been more turbulent, attracting attention from Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United but without a permanent move materializing.
Former Napoli sports chief Mauro Meluso described the decision as one steeped in heartfelt attachment, suggesting De Laurentiis’ emotional connection to Osimhen factored heavily. “A ‘pharaonic’ offer from PSG was rejected out of too much love for the Nigeria international,” Meluso commented. Yet, the fallout from the refusal has fueled a broader transfer saga marked by frustrations and near-moves, as Osimhen himself reportedly rejected a midseason transfer to Manchester United, much to the annoyance of Napoli’s president.
The situation has drawn criticism from some quarters, including former Napoli coach Rudi Garcia, who blamed De Laurentiis for the mishandling of Osimhen’s contractual affairs. Garcia lamented, “Aurelio De Laurentiis simply doesn’t understand football,” pointing to the strained negotiations and Osimhen’s eventual loan to Galatasaray as evidence of poor management.
Despite these challenges, Osimhen’s form at Galatasaray has been impressive, with a remarkable tally of 17 goal involvements in 16 appearances, raising his profile across Europe once again. Napoli is reported to be working toward a permanent transfer solution for the striker, with hefty interest from clubs in England’s Premier League still alive.
This transfer saga encapsulates the complexities of modern football trade-offs between loyalty and profit, between club strategy and player ambition. Aurelio De Laurentiis’ decision to reject PSG’s lucrative offer will undoubtedly be debated for years to come, especially as Osimhen continues to demonstrate his undeniable talent on the pitch elsewhere.