Why I turned Down Arsenal Move – Victor Osimhen reveals
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed why he decided to sign for German club Wolfsburg ahead of Arsenal despite speaking to former manager Arsene Wenger.
According to Goal, Osimhen who is currently in Nigeria on winter break, also disclosed why, aside from Arsenal, he also rejected offers from European heavyweights like Barcelona, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, to sign for Wolfsburg.
According to Victor Osimhen on why I turned Down Arsenal Move, “After the tournament (2015 U-17 World Cup) I actually got down with my family mostly my elder brother, and my agent released the list of teams that were interested,” Osimhen said on Lagos-based radio stations, Nigeria Info.
“It had big European clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Ajax, Anderlecht, a lot of them. Wolfsburg was there also, Spartak Moscow.
“So we sat down and looked at the possibility when I turn 18 so I can start playing immediately. They said Arsenal wanted to sign me, they are desperate to sign me. I spoke with Arsene Wenger on the phone he told me how he wanted me to play but first team wasn’t promised.
“I spoke with my brother and he gave me some candid advice and said I should choose Wolfsburg because the coach wanted me so much more than the rest that we have spoken to. And I should look at the project they have for me that it will be nice that we should give it a shot. So I said okay, fine, we will go to Wolfsburg then.”
Osimhen however expressed sadness that things did not work out well for him at Wolfsburg.
“So for me Wolfsburg was a perfect choice but sometimes life is like this, what you imagined is not what you get.
“It didn’t work out well and I was really sad it didn’t work out well because I really had a point to prove but life is like this so I had to accept.”
Osimhen spent two seasons with Wolfsburg from 2017 to 2019 but failed to score in any of his 16 appearances for the club.
He then joined Belgian club Charleroi on loan from Wolfsburg which turned out to be successful as he netted 20 goals in 36 appearances.
In July 2019 he signed for Lille OSC and on 11 August 2019, made his Ligue 1 debut scoring a brace against Nantes. The match ended 2–1 in favour of Lille.
In October 2019 he became ‘Player of the Month’ for Ligue 1.
