Benni McCarthy believes the Africa Cup of Nations schedule prevented Victor Osimhen’s potential transfer to Manchester United, but the former first-team coach’s reasoning is implausible.
Manchester United were linked with an array of attacking players last summer before signing Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
The aim was to add more goals to the team after Rasmus Hojlund struggled to lead the line under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim in his first two seasons at Old Trafford.
There were several attacking players linked with moves to United that never materialised. Victor Osimhen is an example after being a reported transfer target for multiple years.
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Benni McCarthy believes AFCON cost Victor Osimhen a transfer to Man Utd
The AFCON schedule is a major reason why United avoided signing Osimhen, according to Benni McCarthy.
South Africa’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 31 goals for Bafana Bafana between 1997 and 2012, knows what it takes to play in the Premier League and represent his country at AFCON.
Nigeria striker Osimhen has attracted attention from many elite clubs in Europe, but the 27-year-old completed a transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray in the summer, having spent the previous year on loan at the Turkish club.
McCarthy claims Osimhen had been at the top of United’s transfer list, but the plug was pulled due to fears of losing a £100m-rated player for AFCON midway through the season.
“If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for AFCON,” McCarthy told BBC News Africa.
“I think he would have been very successful there. But it [AFCON] was a big stumbling block. Losing him for so many important matches, the team suffers not having the main striker there.
“So the decision was made. Literally [a] big part was because of the AFCON, and Victor Osimhen’s name got scratched off – not a player of interest because of that.”
Although United went on to sign Hojlund from Atalanta for £72m in 2023, it’s worth noting that fears of AFCON didn’t prevent United from signing Cameroon star Mbeumo two years later.
A lot has changed at United in those years, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe becoming co-owner, so it may be a matter of those directing the club having a different view on signing AFCON players.
Although United lost Mbeumo – as well as Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui – due to AFCON earlier this season, the former Brentford star has been worth every penny since his transfer.
Mbeumo is already one of United’s star players and has more goals (10) than any of his teammates this season.
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Victor Osimhen was ready-made for Man Utd
Osimhen has scored goals everywhere he’s been.
Last night, the 27-year-old played a decisive role in Galatasaray’s triumph over Juventus to book a place in the Champions League last 16.
McCarthy argues that Osimhen would have been suited to United because he would have been able to deal with the noise that surrounds the club.
He added: “He scores goals, he works exceptionally hard, and he’s a player [who is] immune to the noise,” added South Africa’s record goalscorer.
“Playing for Man Utd won’t have a lot of effect on him because of what the boy has gone through in his life. Where he comes from, he’s seen way worse than this.
“Him not scoring for five games in a row won’t affect him. He’ll just keep going on because he knows what struggle is about.”
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