Former Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has revealed that he advised Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli shortly after the striker led the club to their historic 2022/23 Serie A title triumph.
Osimhen was instrumental in Napoli’s first Scudetto win in over three decades, ending a drought that dated back to the Diego Maradona era. His goals, dominance, and consistency not only powered Napoli to the title but also earned him individual accolades, including Serie A Player of the Season.
However, what followed was a turbulent period that eventually saw the relationship between player and club deteriorate, culminating in Osimhen’s move away from Italy.
Speaking in a widely circulated social media clip, Onazi, who previously played in Serie A with Lazio, shared details of a private conversation he had with Osimhen shortly after Napoli sealed the title.
“When Victor won the Italian title, best player of Serie A, and all that, he came to my house,” Onazi revealed. “I told him, ‘You’ve achieved the highest at Napoli. Because of you, they won the title. Move, leave Napoli.’”
Victor Osimhen
Onazi explained that his advice was rooted in experience, warning Osimhen about the volatile nature of football fandom and club politics. According to the former midfielder, staying too long after reaching the peak can sometimes work against players.
“If things don’t go well the next season, they will behave like you never won anything for the club,” Onazi added. “That’s how football is; fans forget your good deeds quickly.”
His words would soon prove prophetic. Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli quickly soured in the seasons that followed, marked by internal tensions and public controversies. Eventually, the Nigerian striker left the club, joining Turkish giants Galatasaray on loan in September 2024. The move was made permanent in the summer of 2025.
Now in Turkey, Osimhen appears to have rediscovered both form and freedom. The Super Eagles forward has been in devastating form for Galatasaray this season, scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances and re-establishing himself as one of Europe’s most lethal strikers.
For Onazi, Osimhen’s resurgence serves as validation of the advice he gave years earlier. For Osimhen, it is another chapter in a career defined by resilience, ambition, and an unwavering hunger for success.
