Nigerian international Victor Osimhen has told Italian authorities that he was pressured into completing his transfer to Napoli in 2020 while his father was gravely ill.

The statement was made during testimony to the Guardia di Finanza, Italy’s financial police, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the transfer deal between Lille and Napoli.

According to multiple reports, Osimhen said he was not mentally or emotionally prepared to negotiate a move at the time, but was urged to proceed by his then-agent Jean Gerard and senior figures at French club Lille. His father reportedly died during the period of negotiations.

Player Claims He Had No Time to Mourn

Osimhen told investigators that he was asked to travel to Naples just one day after his father passed away. He said he was never shown the contract details prior to the trip and did not receive a clear explanation of the terms until after arriving in Italy.

“I wasn’t even given time to mourn properly,” Osimhen reportedly said, expressing frustration with how the transfer was handled under emotionally distressing circumstances.

Transfer Under Scrutiny

Osimhen moved from Lille to Napoli in July 2020 for a reported fee of €75 million, one of the most expensive African transfers at the time.

However, the deal has come under increased scrutiny from Italian financial authorities.

The Guardia di Finanza is investigating whether financial mismanagement or procedural irregularities occurred during the negotiation and execution of the transfer.

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While Osimhen is not accused of any wrongdoing, his testimony forms part of the broader inquiry into Napoli’s transfer dealings under former president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who is also being investigated.

Ongoing Legal Developments

The investigation is part of a wider crackdown on financial transparency in Italian football, with authorities focusing on player valuations, intermediary roles, and accounting practices during major transfers.

Osimhen, now playing for Turkish club Galatasaray, is cooperating fully with the inquiry, according to reports.

Neither Lille, Napoli, nor Osimhen’s former representatives have issued official responses to the latest developments as of the time of publication.