Why Victor Osimhen's move to Chelsea fell through - Mikel Obi details

Former Chelsea and Nigerian international, Mikel Obi, has shared details on Victor Osimhen's failed move to Chelsea, indicating that the parties could not get the paperwork over the line.

Osimhen was close to joining the Blues on transfer deadline day, but reports emerged that Chelsea could not meet the player's high demands.

Speaking on his podcast, Mikel Obi stated he was heavily involved in the deal, denying that his compatriot made outrageous demands as widely reported.

“I was involved in trying to get Osimhen to the club. A lot happened, and I heard a lot of people saying this and that about Victor being greedy,” the former Super Eagles captain said.

“I want to categorically say here that I have known the kid since his very first day on the national team. Our relationship has always been good, and we have kept in contact. I just want to say it is not true that Victor is a greedy boy. He only wants to get what he deserves, and that is not a problem."

Obi emphatically denied the report that the reigning African Footballer of the Year demanded a £500,000-a-week wage, stating that the two parties reached a deal.

“He was not asking for a £500,000-a-week wage," Obi said. "I know what happened. I was in the midst of everything. We were very close to a compromise between him and the club. We were hours away from completing the deal. But there were slight issues that we could not get over the line, and the medicals could not be done."

He further explained that despite reaching a compromise, Chelsea could not get the paperwork and medicals done in the last hour, and thus the deal hit a snag.

“Victor wanted to come to Chelsea," Obi claimed. "I know what Victor wanted and what the club offered him. I know where we got to. We finally had a compromise, but it was some little paperwork, medicals, and a few issues that we could not get over the line.”

After his failed move to the Premier League, Victor Osimhen secured a season-long move to Turkish giants Galatasaray after Napoli exempted him from their squad.

EE/BB