Gary Lineker says some top clubs avoided signing Osimhen due to off-field concerns.
Despite praising his talent, he claims rumors about Osimhen’s behavior raised character red flags.
British football legend Gary Lineker has claimed that several top European clubs passed on the chance to sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen due to concerns over his off-field behavior, despite his exceptional talent.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the former England and Barcelona forward praised Osimhen’s abilities but revealed that whispers about the striker’s “character” may have discouraged some major clubs from making a move during the summer 2025 transfer window.
“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester in the Europa League,” Lineker said. “He was so impressive, and I’ve followed his career since then. He was brilliant for Napoli, sensational.”
However, Lineker added, “I hear through the grapevine that some clubs are a bit nervous because he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So apparently, there are slight concerns about his character in that regard.”
Before completing a €75 million transfer to Turkish giants earlier this summer, Osimhen was one of the most sought-after forwards in global football. He had been strongly linked with several elite clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite his stellar performances for Napoli, where he helped the Italian club win the Serie A title, Lineker’s comments suggest that questions about his professionalism or reliability may have impacted his prospects of landing a move to the Premier League or Ligue 1.
Osimhen, 24, has not publicly addressed the remarks, but the discussion has reignited debate among fans and pundits about how much off-field conduct influences high-profile transfer decisions in modern football.
