Recent reports suggesting that Victor Osimhen is demanding £500,000 per week from Chelsea have sparked widespread speculation, as the figure appears too good to be true, Soccernet.ng reports.
Earlier, The Sun claimed that the Nigerian striker is seeking a salary of half a million pounds, a demand that would make him the highest-paid player in Europe.
However, while these reports have not been officially debunked by Osimhen’s camp or the clubs involved, they remain highly questionable and lack concrete evidence.
In an effort to clarify the situation, Soccernet.ng reached out to Napoli-based journalist Vincenzo Credendino, who shed light on the matter.
Credendino dismissed the £500,000 per week claim as untrue, explaining that while no player would willingly take a pay cut, the reported figure seems exaggerated.
“I don’t know if it is crazy, but I don’t know any player who accepts to lower his salary. Here in Napoli, he earns 11 million euros per year, so I think it is normal he wants to keep his salary that way. But I think 20 million euros per year is too much. I don’t think this is true,” said Credendino.
Currently, the former LOSC Lille forward earns 11 million euros per year, which equates to approximately €211,538 (£179,807) per week.
In comparison, Romelu Lukaku was reportedly earning around £325,000 per week during his time at Chelsea, making him one of the club’s highest earners.
Given this context, it appears unlikely that Osimhen’s salary demands would be a stumbling block for Chelsea. Offering between £250,000 to £300,000 per week for the Nigerian forward would not cause the club to breach Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, making a potential deal feasible.