By Ibrahim Danladi

Victor Osimhen’s recent refusal of a staggering £1 million per week contract from Al Hilal has sparked a debate about whether his decision was driven by moral or professional considerations.

Al Hilal had put forth an offer amounting to €140 million to Napoli for the services of the Super Eagles striker, with the proposed wages reaching the astronomical sum of £1 million per week. However, Osimhen turned down this offer.

Instead, the current Serie A top scorer is reportedly in negotiations to extend his contract with Napoli, the reigning champions. The 24-year-old is expected to sign a new two-year deal that would keep him at the club until 2027, complete with a €150 million release clause.

Osimhen’s decision to decline a substantial move to the Middle East has generated intense discussions on social media, particularly among Nigerian football enthusiasts. One camp argued that he should have considered signing a shorter-term contract with Al Hilal and then return to Europe while still in the prime of his career. On the other hand, some believed that Osimhen had just started making his mark on the international football scene and shouldn’t abruptly depart for Saudi Arabia when his stock is on the rise.

Yubby Ndunofit, the co-producer and host of The Hindsight Podcast, shared his perspective on the matter, saying, “I have two perspectives – the sentimental and the ambitious perspective. I personally believe African players cannot even for a second start to behave or think like European players.” He went on to emphasize that Osimhen, coming from Africa, shouldn’t prioritize the glittering European Champions League as the sole factor in his decision-making process.

Ndunofit argued that the opportunity to potentially become Africa’s highest-paid athlete of all time should have been a straightforward decision for Osimhen. He pointed to players like Sadio Mane, who, despite earning less than £150,000 per week at Liverpool, have been actively involved in community development in their home countries.

In essence, while Osimhen may have accumulated significant wealth, there’s a growing emphasis on considering one’s impact on the community and the continent as a whole as part of the decision-making process once a certain financial threshold has been reached.