Julio Baptista believes Manchester United is the wrong club for Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian striker set to leave Napoli this summer.
It has been a turbulent campaign for Manchester United as Ruben Amorim’s side sit in the bottom half of the Premier League. The only way the Red Devils can salvage something this season is by winning the Europa League.
That would not only secure Champions League football for next season, but it would also help the club financially ahead of the summer transfer window.
One of the biggest problems facing United is the lack of goals scored this season. After 33 Premier League games, the Reds have managed to score just 38 goals, which is a damning tally for the strikers at the club.
Rasmus Hojlund has continued to struggle and Joshua Zirkzee is not the prolific goalscorer United need to reach the next level.
United have been linked with a move for Victor Osimhen, who has spent the season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. The 26-year-old is expected to leave the Serie A outfit permanently this year.
Julio Baptista advice for Victor Osimhen
United are being linked with various options in the striker department, including Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko.
Victor Osimhen is arguably the biggest name available to United, but it will prove costly to reach an agreement with Napoli as well as the player’s representatives.
Former Arsenal and Real Madrid forward Julio Baptista has urged Osimhen to choose his next club wisely, while suggesting Old Trafford is not the place for him to thrive.
“He’s an incredible striker,” Baptista told Foot Italia. “33 games this year, 29 goals. He’s a very, very good player, but he needs to find a team that plays with his style.
“He needs to find a team playing a little closer to his approach. Sometimes this is a big problem. Sometimes players don’t think a lot about finding the perfect club for their abilities. For example, he’s been linked with Manchester United, but is he going to get the chances there? I have my doubts about that.”
If Osimhen is to sign for United, he would be joining Bruno Fernandes, who has created more goalscoring opportunities for his teammates than any other player in the Premier League.
There is no reason to think Osimhen wouldn’t get chances at United, despite Baptista’s comments. The difference is, unlike Hojlund, he’d likely find the back of the net.
Odion Ighalo urges Osimhen to make Premier League move
Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo believes it is the right time for Osimhen to make the move to the Premier League after proving himself in Italy and Turkey as a prolific goalscorer.
The striker is leading the Turkish Super Lig’s goalscoring charts with 21 goals in 25 matches.
Ighalo, who played for two Premier League clubs, believes it would be the best move for the fellow Nigerian’s career.
“Yeah, I believe he has done so well so far for his age and he’s still doing well,” Ighalo told Abu Azeez Podcast.
“I believe he should go to the Premier League, but you know he’s young. He has his agent, he has his advisor, and I believe they can advise him on what to do.
“If I were to advise him, I’d say the Premier League, because that is the big stage – the biggest league in the world. That’s where I believe he’s going to make an even bigger name for himself that he can carry throughout his career, even after football.
He added: “For me, I’ll just advise him to go to the Premier League, but he knows best. Everybody can say whatever they want, but the player who is playing and doing the job knows what is in his heart and head. So whatever decision he makes, I’m 101% in support of him.”
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