Victor Osimhen has confirmed he turned down eye-watering sums of money from Saudi Arabia this summer.
The Napoli striker, 24, fired his club to the Serie A title last season before earning admiring glances from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Al-Hilal.
It was the Saudi club which was rumoured to be pushing hardest to sign Osimhen, with a £120million transfer fee touted along with an ever-increasing personal terms package.
“Of course,” he told The Obi One Podcast with Chelsea favourite John Obi Mikel when asked if he wants to stay in Europe.
“What was said was true, I had talks, in August that week was a huge one, a huge decision for me to take, but I actually put it in God’s hands.
“But the more I said no to these people [in Saudi Arabia] the more they increased it and increased it, it was literally like, ‘Wow’, seeing these things.
“I spoke with the people in charge and we spoke about it with my club and we saw what we could do, we decided, me and them and I told them, ‘I like these people, I want to stay, I don’t think I want to leave for now’. They understand where I’m coming from but they never gave up until their own transfer window [closed].
“I said to them even before we played the first game of the season, ‘It’s done’, I really didn’t want to go back thinking, of course it’s a huge one, an amazing one that’s going to change my life but of course I had to make the decision that’s good for my career too.
“As much as we play football for money there’s more that comes with it.”
Nigeria international Osimhen remains a target for Chelsea but would not be drawn on where he would like to move, if he was to leave Napoli from England.
“I don’t have a favourite Premier League club,” he stated.
“But I have two shirts: Chelsea and Manchester United. Many of my friends are Chelsea fans, a few Man United. The Premier League is the most popular league for any African player, it’s a great league.”
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