Osimhen, Lookman transfer sagas expose Italian football’s mismanagement of African talent

By August 2025, two of Nigeria’s brightest football stars, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, will have found themselves at the heart of protracted, and at times acrimonious, transfer sagas that have once again raised troubling questions about how Serie A clubs handle player exits, particularly those involving African talents.

Osimhen, fresh off his historic achievements at Napoli, has finally sealed a €75 million move to Galatasaray, a record-breaking deal in Turkish football. On the other hand, Lookman’s proposed move from Atlanta to Inter Milan has hit an ugly impasse, with accusations of broken promises and disrespect by his current club.

While the details of the two cases differ, both expose a recurring theme: a lack of professionalism, transparency, and goodwill by Italian clubs when it comes to letting African players go on their own terms, even after years of service and stellar performances.

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Osimhen’s journey in Italy was nothing short of phenomenal. The 24-year-old striker was pivotal in Napoli’s 2022/2023 title-winning season, their first Scudetto in over three decades, scoring 26 goals to clinch the Serie A top scorer award. He instantly became a cult hero in Naples and one of the most feared strikers in Europe.

Yet, when the time came for Osimhen to seek new challenges, Napoli’s handling of the situation left much to be desired. Rumours of Osimhen’s desire to leave emerged as early as mid-2024, with Saudi clubs, Chelsea, and Manchester United reportedly circling. Still, Napoli insisted on a €120 million valuation that many deemed unrealistic.

By August 2024, Napoli’s newly appointed sporting director, Giovanni Manna, confirmed that Osimhen had officially asked to leave. Rather than facilitate a dignified exit, the club stalled negotiations, allegedly rejecting structured offers from multiple top clubs before finally settling on a deal with Galatasaray, a respectable club but not among Europe’s elite and far from Osimhen’s preferred destinations.

The deal, completed in July 2025, included staggered payments and a modest sell-on clause, a far cry from Napoli’s initial rigid demands. That climbdown underscored the futility of the delay and suggested that Napoli’s posture may have been more about control than business.

“When African players flourish in Serie A, they are often celebrated. But when they decide it is time to move on, the goodwill quickly dissipates. Clubs suddenly become intransigent, valuations skyrocket, and negotiations become opaque.”

Sadly, Lookman’s situation at Atalanta bears uncomfortable similarities. The 27-year-old winger was instrumental in the club’s historic 2023/24 UEFA Europa League victory, including a stunning hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. His performances turned him into a cult figure among Atalanta fans and made him a top target for Inter Milan.

Inter reportedly offered €45 million for the Nigerian, and Lookman agreed to personal terms. But Atalanta dug in, demanding €50 million and refusing to budge. The standoff prompted a public outburst from Lookman, who accused the club of breaking a gentleman’s agreement.

In a strongly worded social media statement, Lookman expressed his disappointment: “After many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me as both a human being and a professional footballer, I’ve decided to formally request a transfer.”

He added that he had given his all for the club and had been assured he could leave if a suitable offer came, terms he believes Inter met.

Since then, Lookman has scrubbed all Atalanta-related content from his online platforms, a symbolic act that reflects the breakdown in relations. At the time of writing, the club remains unmoved, while the player is clearly disillusioned.

When African players flourish in Serie A, they are often celebrated. But when they decide it is time to move on, the goodwill quickly dissipates. Clubs suddenly become intransigent, valuations skyrocket, and negotiations become opaque. These are not isolated cases. Similar patterns were observed in the past with players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Franck Kessié.

Critics argue that Italian clubs often fail to develop humane and forward-thinking exit strategies for their African stars. Instead, such players are treated as mere assets rather than professionals whose careers have short lifespans and whose aspirations must be respected.

The situation is worsened by the poor communication strategies of many Serie A clubs, which create an atmosphere of mistrust. In both Osimhen’s and Lookman’s cases, the players chose to speak directly to fans via social media, effectively bypassing club channels and exposing a severe breakdown in internal dialogue.

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This editorial is not a call for clubs to recklessly sell their best players. Rather, it is a plea for a modern, respectful, and player-centric transfer culture. A club’s right to protect its financial interests must be balanced with the player’s right to career progression, personal development, and dignified treatment.

Italian football, while rich in heritage and talent, risks tarnishing its reputation among African players and their agents. Serie A, already grappling with global image issues and competition from richer leagues, cannot afford to become a symbol of transfer gridlock and player dissatisfaction.

Osimhen and Lookman have served their Italian clubs with distinction. The least they deserve is fair treatment and an exit process that respects their contributions. If Serie A truly wants to attract and retain the best talents from Africa and beyond, it must urgently modernise how it handles its stars, on and off the pitch.