La Gazzetta dello Sport reveals the inside story of Osimhen's transfer

This summer, the transfer saga surrounding the €100 million-rated striker Victor Osimhen has been a whirlwind. In the end, he is set to join Galatasaray on loan. *La Gazzetta dello Sport* has detailed the intertwined story involving the player, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Al-Ahli.

A happy ending in "extra time" has brought relief to everyone. Victor Osimhen's short-term loan to Galatasaray finally puts an end to months of temptation, misunderstandings, and impulsiveness that put both Napoli and the Nigerian forward in a difficult position. What was supposed to be a record-breaking transfer in the summer of 2024 turned into a real mess.

There will be time in the future to determine who made mistakes and who asked for too much, but it's clear that the €130 million release clause was excessive from the start. This figure was unattainable in the era of the Premier League and UEFA's Financial Fair Play. As a result, Paris Saint-Germain pulled out of the negotiations, especially after De Laurentiis rejected the package deal for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen. In Paris, the management hit the brakes, and what once seemed like a foregone conclusion became impossible, even though the French club's management had already reached an agreement with the player.

However, Chelsea was always in the background, clearly interested in using the striker to replace Romelu Lukaku. Yet, perhaps the most surprising obstacle emerged in London. For example, 10 days ago, Napoli's management had practically reached an agreement with Osimhen, offering him a €15 million severance package. This was a significant amount, enough to make him accept Chelsea's offer of a €6 million net annual salary. With a little math, the striker's average annual income could reach €9 million, which is not a small amount.

However, Osimhen and his representatives were not satisfied with this solution. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli presented a lucrative four-year contract worth €40 million per year. The total amount of €160 million undoubtedly appealed to his team. Things were different for Napoli because De Laurentiis initially wanted the Saudi club to pay the same transfer fee as Chelsea, €80 million. However, the Saudi side was only willing to offer €65 million. For Napoli's owner, this figure was too low, and he tried to find a middle ground...but failed, as Al-Ahli quickly turned their attention to Ivan Toney. The breakdown in negotiations left Osimhen very unhappy, as he waited for good news at the Parker Hotel in Naples. His shouts of frustration could be heard by those around him.

In summary, there were several key moments in this saga, with all parties clearly driven by conflicting interests. However, they have now reached a compromise that satisfies everyone. Osimhen has reached an agreement with Galatasaray, with the option to leave in January if a top club comes calling. At the same time, he has renewed his contract with Napoli for another year, with the release clause now reduced to €80 million: the same amount agreed upon with Chelsea.

Throughout the process, the "growth decree" played a role. Osimhen benefited from tax breaks, allowing him to net €11 million per year while Napoli's total expenditure was €14.3 million. For this reason, De Laurentiis requested a one-year contract extension. On one hand, he took on the risk of paying for an additional year, while also ensuring tax savings. Moreover, the amortization of the €75 million investment made in 2019 can be further spread out. Upon sale, De Laurentiis will secure a net profit.

In conclusion, this solution appears highly sensible after a series of dramatic and minor conflicts. It serves as a lesson for everyone involved.