Gary Lineker Alleges Osimhen’s Temperament Scaring Off Elite Clubs

Top European clubs are reportedly avoiding Nigerian international Victor Osimhen due to character issues rather than his skill, according to former England striker and football analyst Gary Lineker.

The Nigerian international was one of the most sought-after players in Europe prior to agreeing to a four-year contract worth €75 million with the Turkish powerhouse, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and other elite teams interested in signing him.

But in an interview with The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said that although Osimhen is unquestionably one of the world’s most talented strikers, elite teams may be wary of his demeanour.

“Victor Osimhen has the physicality, pace, and goal-scoring record any club would want,” Lineker said. “But from what I’m hearing, it’s not about the football. It’s about personality—his attitude behind the scenes.”

Despite being open to a move, Osimhen—who had a fantastic season at Napoli and was previously linked to Premier League powerhouses like Chelsea and Manchester United—suddenly seems to have fewer suitors.

“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester when they were in the Europa League,” the former Leicester City forward added.

“He was so impressive, and I’ve followed his career because of that. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli. I mean, he was sensational.

“I do hear on the grapevine that a reason one or two of the clubs are a little bit nervous is that he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So, there’s apparently some kind of slight question mark as to his character in that sense,” Lineker concluded.