The future of Super Eagles Striker, Victor Osimhen, has set fans and friends alike on a collision course over his next career move.

Though The PUNCH on Friday reported that Osimhen, who is the current African Footballer of the Year, opted for Saudi’s Al-Ahli, the Napoli forward had kept fans and friends guessing his next move during the transfer window.

Osimhen was said to have turned down a move to join the English side, Chelsea Football Club.

According to Skysport in Italy, the Nigerian forward would prefer a move to join the Saudi Arabian side in a four-year deal with his former employers; Napoli is expected to earn £67.3m (€80m) plus add-ons.

Osimhen had earlier turned down €70m move to the Saudi Arabian club with his agent Roberto Calenda insisting the Napoli star still has unfinished business in European football, The PUNCH reports.

This development comes amid heightened transfer speculation surrounding the Napoli star, who has drawn interest from several top clubs across Europe and the Middle East.

Osimhen has a litany of clubs in the Saudi Pro League willing to break the bank to sign him, but the Nigeria international had before now overlooked such overtures, looking to continue his football in Europe, preferably the English Premier League.

Before the news that the striker would prefer to ply his trade at the Saudi Pro League, there had been speculations about his next move, with friends and fans on social media engaging in a ‘war’ of facts about his and contract terms.

Though a Nigerian journalist and known ally of Osimhen, Adebayo Sulaiman, with the handle @PoojaMedia, had been given details about the player’s transfer speculations, insisting that the striker won’t be heading to Chelsea this summer, others claimed that the striker would be heading to England from Italy.

The debate got hotter when a German-based Nigerian journalist, Oma Akatugba, in a post on his X account on Thursday, claimed that the Super Eagles striker may be heading to Chelsea.

“The Victor Osimhen transfer saga seems to be leaning toward a move to Chelsea. According to my sources—not Victor or anyone from his camp—as of 11 p.m. last night, he agreed to a weekly wage of €350,000 with Chelsea.

“Initially, he sought €500,000 per week, but Chelsea persuaded him to accept the lower figure. However, Chelsea fans shouldn’t celebrate just yet, as this drama is far from over. The Saudi clubs are still in the race and are offering even more money,” Akatugba wrote.

The sports journalist’s expose on the player’s future sent waves across social media as friends and fans took turns to give their side of the story.

Reacting to Akatugba’s post, a known friend of Osimhen and social media influencer, @the_smallie, fired back, claiming the journalist’s take wasn’t correct.

“He never asked for €500k and Chelsea didn’t propose anything close to this €350k An accredited UEFA journalist shouldn’t be spreading information like this,” Osimhen’s friend wrote.

Another influencer, @TheTifeFab, wrote, “This is a BIG LIE. Chelsea never offered Victor €350,000 and neither did Victor request €500,000. Let’s stop spreading false information or figures we didn’t confirm.”

Also, @_AsiwajuLerry, who is a friend of the striker, while responding to Akatugba’s tweet wrote, “This guy fell out with Victor Osimhen and most of the Super Eagles players and he’s been piling on them every chance he gets. Quoting an outrageous amount which is very far from the truth just to set the player up. An absolute disgrace of a journalist.”

Backing @the_smallie, an X user with the handle, @Iamadaba, wrote, “You people just hate Osihmen for no reason sha. Cos what’s all these hot takes and gibberish? Low-key, you really wish you had someone like him in your corner, but since he doesn’t relate with you, hatred and agenda next.”

Chiding @the_smallie, a popular social commentator, @Letter_to_Jack, argued that while Osimhen’s friends were trying to set the record straight, it wasn’t reflecting well on the player.

According to him, I understand you guys want to correct the record about your friend, it’s admirable, however, this is too detailed info about a contract that’s still in the final stages of negotiation.

He added, “It doesn’t project Osimhen in good light at all. Future employers (especially in Europe) will take this into account. Ornstein or Fab would have just quoted this with “FALSE”, and they won’t go into details until the saga is completed or the window has closed— which is a matter of hours now.

“Why do you think only trusted journalists get scoops about transfer deals and contract details to leak? You think other loved ones; brothers and friends, of other footballers, can’t come and attack fake news about their person? You think the best friends and loved ones of other players won’t have knowledge of their decision on transfer issues days before the news breaks? In the world of football, it’s either the player, his agent, or a trusted journo.

“Any outlet outside of that bracket (especially friends who are not known in the field) is a pointer to a propensity for leaks in the player’s camp, and that’s never a good sign. Everyone should have coordinated with Pooja to debunk Omar. Don’t allow your emotions to control you in a manner that will negatively affect your friend.”

Corroborating @Letter_to_Jack, another football fan, tweeting from @Jerkingfish, said, “It’s funny how they don’t see it like this. At this point, I think these guys are part of Osihmen’s problem. How on earth are you arguing private contract details with a Journalist per “na my friend, make I talk Wetin I know”. Literally all he had to do was say “False”

However, in his response after news of Osimhen’s move to Saudi became public, Akatugba insisted on his claim, adding that the player went for higher pay.

He wrote, “Chelsea couldn’t pay so he went for the money. But idiots say he can’t ask for 500k when people earn close to 800k a month before Tax in the same England? I am not one to chicken out when I know my story. They can hire you to come to embarrass yourself here that’s your choice. I am working, you are making noise.” (The PUNCH)

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