Victor Osimhen’s transfer to Napoli under investigation over suspected fraud

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen’s move from Lille to Napoli is under investigation, with the offices of both clubs raided in Naples, Roma, and France.

According to Il Mattino, La Repubblica, Sky Sport Italia, and others, police raided Napoli and Lille offices in Naples, Rome, and France as part of the investigation. Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, is also being investigated for possible fraud in the transfer.

According to French media outlet, L’Equipe, it was revealed that Lille got just €36m, not €81m, as widely reported.

It was the most expensive deal in Lille’s history, making Osimhen the most expensive African footballer ever, taking over from Nicolas Pepe, who left for Arsenal the previous season.

The deal has long been the subject of controversy, as the official €70m transfer plus €10m in bonuses fee was only circa €50m in cash.

The other €20m was made up of goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis and three youth team players Luigi Liguori, Claudio Manzi and Ciro Palmieri.

Details have emerged that Osimhen’s former club has only received €36m from his transfer.

It was gathered that  the Ligue 1 club was in a very poor financial state at the time and the transfer of the Super Eagles forward was used to balance the books by the club.

The deal has long been a cause of controversy, as the official €70m transfer plus €10m in bonuses was only circa €50m in cash, the other €20m made up of goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis and three youth team players Luigi Liguori, Claudio Manzi and Ciro Palmieri.

The value of Liguori, Manzi and Palmieri immediately raised eyebrows, because they were given highly inflated prices on the transfer market.

There was even more controversy as the three players never got to wear the Lille jersey, as they were immediately loaned out to Serie C sides and their contracts were simply terminated a year later free of charge.

The players went to the media complaining the deal had ruined their careers and they were used as pawns in a larger transaction used to bolster the finances of both Napoli and Lille.