Former Barcelona and England striker, Gary Lineker, has revealed that several top European clubs backed out of signing Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen due to concerns about his character.
Before sealing a four-year move to Turkish giants Galatasaray in a deal reportedly worth €75 million, Osimhen had attracted serious interest from elite clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal.
However, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker suggested that behind-the-scenes concerns may have influenced those clubs’ decisions.
“I watched Osimhen a couple of times when Napoli played Leicester in the Europa League, and he really stood out,” Lineker said. “He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli—sensational.”
Despite praising his talent and performance, Lineker disclosed that certain off-field issues may have raised red flags.
“I’ve heard whispers that he sometimes goes missing for a few days, which has led to some questions about his character,” he added.
Lineker’s comments shed light on why some of Europe’s top clubs may have hesitated despite Osimhen’s outstanding form in Serie A.
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