Victor Osimhen has revealed that he was close to joining Juventus before Napoli blocked a potential transfer, shedding new light on one of Serie A’s most intriguing “what-if” stories.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport in comments shared by Fabrizio Romano, the Nigerian striker admitted that the Bianconeri had made a concrete approach for him during his time at Napoli, but club president Aurelio De Laurentiis refused to sanction a move to their domestic rivals.
“I could have joined Juventus, yes. Juve wanted to sign me… but Napoli president De Laurentiis didn’t want to sell me to Juventus,” Osimhen said. “For sure, Juventus are a top club. When Juventus call you, you listen.”
The revelation highlights the long-standing tension between Napoli and Juventus, two clubs with a fierce rivalry in Italian football. Napoli’s reluctance to strengthen a direct competitor has often influenced their transfer strategy, and Osimhen’s case appears to be another example of that firm stance.
Osimhen, who played a crucial role in Napoli’s historic Serie A title-winning campaign, has since continued to attract interest from Europe’s elite clubs. His combination of pace, power and goal-scoring ability has made him one of the most sought-after forwards in world football, with Premier League and Saudi Pro League sides also monitoring his situation.