Victor Osimhen | Saudi deal collapse? | Ogden: United decide that he’s not the right profile

I fully understand when players go to Saudi for one last big contract (if i was Bruno or Salah i wouldn't think one second) or when your reality is midtable clubs in Europe.

But to go there in best football years while you can choose top clubs in Europe? Why? He is 26. That is two or three contract more until the end of career. Stay one more contract in Europe and then go.
 
Andycoleno9 said:
I fully understand when players go to Saudi for one last big contract (if i was Bruno or Salah i wouldn't think one second) or when your reality is midtable clubs in Europe.

But to go there in best football years while you can choose top clubs in Europe? Why? He is 26. That is two or three contract more until the end of career. Stay one more contract in Europe and then go.
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It's your career. I don't begrudge any player for trying to maximise their earnings over their career. And not everyone values playing in the big leagues more than making a lot of money with their job.

It sucks for us as fans, but it's their job
 
hellhunter said:
It's your career. I don't begrudge any player for trying to maximise their earnings over their career. And not everyone values playing in the big leagues more than making a lot of money with their job.

It sucks for us as fans, but it's their job
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No, no, no....i am 100% with you here. Their career, their choice. And money talks in life.
But in this case i am just annoyed i guess.

Because i want this fecker in United for years now, ffs! Instead I will Hojlund MKII
 
Andycoleno9 said:
No, no, no....i am 100% with you here. Their career, their choice. And money talks in life.
But in this case i am just annoyed i guess.

Because i want this fecker in United for years now, ffs! Instead I will Hojlund MKII
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He'd be such an exciting signing for sure!
 
Exceedingly disappointing if true - I'm all for 90% of players choosing money over just playing in a big league but Victor has the air of someone who could make history (already has with Napoli and Galatasaray) so you ideally want to see him at the highest level. With Nigeria almost certainly out of the next World Cup, that's essentially Osimhen completely out of elite football in his prime.

IMO great players specifically have a moral duty to choose football over money.
 
We are going to find out in a few weeks because surely they want the deal done before the club world cup. Im actually not fully convinced he goes to Saudi
 
Andycoleno9 said:
I fully understand when players go to Saudi for one last big contract (if i was Bruno or Salah i wouldn't think one second) or when your reality is midtable clubs in Europe.

But to go there in best football years while you can choose top clubs in Europe? Why? He is 26. That is two or three contract more until the end of career. Stay one more contract in Europe and then go.
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Yeah he could easily have gone there in 4 years time
 
I think he’s the best striker on the market, he would suit us perfectly for what we are trying to do.
 
croadyman said:
Yeah no way are we paying him £400k a week, really sad to see someone in their prime going to Saudi
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He is making €10 Million net (including reachable bonuses) at Napoli. This works out to a net salary of £165K/week, which is a gross salary of £300K/week. His salary is currently covered by Galatasaray and Napoli do want to sell. (They are about to sign KDB for half Osimhen’s wages)

Very few players in the top leagues in Europe make this kind of money, if he wants an increase (at least € 12M net/ £ 360K/week before teaxes) as reported he will have no choice but to go to Saudi...
 
ShinjiNinja26 said:
He’s more concerned about chasing the money. Had this been pre INEOS I’m sure we’d have been all over it and would’ve gladly handed him over 350 bags a week for the next 5 years.
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Hes just not interested in taking a pay cut which he shouldn’t be. Why the feck should he as one of the best CFs in football

If Saudi was his first choice he would have went in 2023 and 2024 or for this summer a deal would already be done. Hes clearly been angling for a move in Europe but he may will end up in Saudi now.
 
Cassidy said:
Hes just not interested in taking a pay cut which he shouldn’t be. Why the feck should he as one of the best CFs in football

If Saudi was his first choice he would have went in 2023 and 2024 or for this summer a deal would already be done. Hes clearly been angling for a move in Europe but he may will end up in Saudi now.
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One of the best strikers around that will spend the best years of his career in the Saudi league. He may well be angling for a move in Europe but the fact no one wants to touch him should tell him his demands are unrealistic. Just because one club was daft enough to put him on those wages doesn’t mean other clubs have to oblige. You’re right he doesn’t need to take a pay cut but he’s got a choice, chase another contract similar to what he’s already on and fade away into obscurity or accept a slight pay cut and spend his prime years on the world stage. Seems like he’s more interested in the former. Good luck to him.
 
ShinjiNinja26 said:
One of the best strikers around that will spend the best years of his career in the Saudi league. He may well be angling for a move in Europe but the fact no one wants to touch him should tell him his demands are unrealistic. Just because one club was daft enough to put him on those wages doesn’t mean other clubs have to oblige. You’re right he doesn’t need to take a pay cut but he’s got a choice, chase another contract similar to what he’s already on and fade away into obscurity or accept a slight pay cut and spend his prime years on the world stage. Seems like he’s more interested in the former. Good luck to him
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Hes on around the same wages as:

Kai Havertz
Casemiro
Jack Grealish
Omar Mamoush
Bruno Fernandes

I don’t think his demands are as crazy as you think.

Anyway we’ll see what happens. I still think he may end up in Europe
 
Cassidy said:
Hes on around the same wages as:

Kai Havertz
Casemiro
Jack Grealish
Omar Mamoush
Bruno Fernandes

I don’t think his demands are as crazy as you think.

Anyway we’ll see what happens. I still think he may end up in Europe
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The thing is the first 3 on that list were poor deals in the first place. Havertz is massively overrated, Grealish cost a £100m and warms the bench when he’s not pissed up and the Casemiro one is widely accepted to have been a terrible bit of business. Bruno due to his importance to our team has rightly earned a top wage especially considering the sort of contracts we’ve previously dished out to players with half his ability meant he had extra leverage, and time will tell with Marmoush but he definitely looks a player.

He may well end up at a European club but the fact that Chelsea, a team desperate for a striker and who’ve been spending money like it’s going out of fashion since Boehly took over baulked at his demands and pulled the plug gives me serious doubts unless something changes.
 
Cassidy said:
Hes on around the same wages as:

Kai Havertz
Casemiro
Jack Grealish
Omar Mamoush
Bruno Fernandes

I don’t think his demands are as crazy as you think.

Anyway we’ll see what happens. I still think he may end up in Europe
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Long as it’s not to a Premier League rival
 
ShinjiNinja26 said:
The thing is the first 3 on that list were poor deals in the first place. Havertz is massively overrated, Grealish cost a £100m and warms the bench when he’s not pissed up and the Casemiro one is widely accepted to have been a terrible bit of business. Bruno due to his importance to our team has rightly earned a top wage especially considering the sort of contracts we’ve previously dished out to players with half his ability meant he had extra leverage, and time will tell with Marmoush but he definitely looks a player.

He may well end up at a European club but the fact that Chelsea, a team desperate for a striker and who’ve been spending money like it’s going out of fashion since Boehly took over baulked at his demands and pulled the plug gives me serious doubts unless something changes.
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Chelsea changed their transfer strategy and now pay low wages over extended contracts which is why they target younger players
 
Cassidy said:
Chelsea changed their transfer strategy and now pay low wages over extended contracts which is why they target younger players
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With CL football now secured, hopefully we can now tweak this strategy because we need needle movers, not young players that will come in and bolster the squad option. You don't get ready made needle movers in their prime by being cheap with contracts.

I don't know exactly what Osimhen's demands are going to be this summer, but if it is within the range of the players you mentioned above, so roughly between 250-350k a week, then I would honestly give him what he wants on a 4 or 5 year deal and then try and throw everything we can at Rodrygo.
 
WeePat said:
With CL football now secured, hopefully we can now tweak this strategy because we need needle movers, not young players that will come in and bolster the squad option. You don't get ready made needle movers in their prime by being cheap with contracts.

I don't know exactly what Osimhen's demands are going to be this summer, but if it is within the range of the players you mentioned above, so roughly between 250-350k a week, then I would honestly give him what he wants on a 4 or 5 year deal and then try and throw everything we can at Rodrygo.
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Its 300-350k a week or 12m euros net
 
Cassidy said:
Its 300-350k a week or 12m euros net
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That honestly should be doable on a 4 or 5 year deal. He's 26 and can be expected to hit the ground running immediately. He should be our prime target this summer.
 
WeePat said:
That honestly should be doable on a 4 or 5 year deal. He's 26 and can be expected to hit the ground running immediately. He should be our prime target this summer.
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He wont be UCL has nothing to do with your new wage policy
 
WeePat said:
That honestly should be doable on a 4 or 5 year deal. He's 26 and can be expected to hit the ground running immediately. He should be our prime target this summer.
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I heard that he has already agreed a 3 year deal with Al Hilal playing in the Saudi League..
 
Andycoleno9 said:
I fully understand when players go to Saudi for one last big contract (if i was Bruno or Salah i wouldn't think one second) or when your reality is midtable clubs in Europe.

But to go there in best football years while you can choose top clubs in Europe? Why? He is 26. That is two or three contract more until the end of career. Stay one more contract in Europe and then go.
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No guarantees in football tbh. Could easily play 2 years there, earn a lifetime of earnings and get back to europe.
 
WeePat said:
That honestly should be doable on a 4 or 5 year deal. He's 26 and can be expected to hit the ground running immediately. He should be our prime target this summer.
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Factor in another 320/week for the amortisation of his transfer fee.… if he ends up somewhat unhappy in London it will be way more expensive than your Lukaku mistake. It is a big gamble.
 
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Pintu said:
Factor in another 320/week for the amortisation of his transfer fee.… if he ends up somewhat unhappy in London it will be way more expensive than your Lukaku mistake. It is a big gamble.
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Yes but what if he doesn't end up unhappy?

It's obviously a risk, but what's the alternative. We've been linked with Ekitike, Delap and some other young players but for me, eventually we have to take a shot at landing players that actually move the needle. Gyokeres might be a more palatable transfer and I would absolutely have him, but Osimhen is my preferred target.
 
WeePat said:
Yes but what if he doesn't end up unhappy?

It's obviously a risk, but what's the alternative. We've been linked with Ekitike, Delap and some other young players but for me, eventually we have to take a shot at landing players that actually move the needle. Gyokeres might be a more palatable transfer and I would absolutely have him, but Osimhen is my preferred target.
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Amazed you moneybags baulked at his demands
 
Napoli can have a straight swap and be happy with it. They rode us once for McTominay already.
 
ONsimhen!
Is it true he rejected joining United out of respect for Ighalo when he was here? Would love to exchange him with Højlund.
 
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