2 months ago
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Legendary Italian agent Antonio Caliendo didn’t mince words in his sharp critique of the transfer dealings involving Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
The agent accused both Osimhen’s team and Napoli’s management of mishandling what could have been a blockbuster move.
Osimhen, once linked with powerhouses like Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, surprisingly ended up on loan at Galatasaray instead of securing a spot at one of Europe’s elite clubs.
In a stinging assessment, the renowned football agent did not hold back when discussing the mishandling of Osimhen’s transfer saga.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Goal, live on Kiss Kiss Napoli, Caliendo expressed his dissatisfaction with how the Nigerian striker’s career had been managed, as reported by AreaNapoli on Thursday.
“He was supposed to be the leading man of the world market, and he was not managed in the right way,” Caliendo stated bluntly.
Caliendo, well-known for his extensive experience in the football world, was clear in his belief that Napoli’s market potential was limited by the poor handling of Osimhen’s transfer.
“Napoli’s market was restricted by the sale of Osimhen, who did not generate the expected great market value,” the 80-year-old stated.
Despite his frustrations, Caliendo was quick to praise Antonio Conte’s leadership at Napoli, noting, “It seems to me that everything is going well in Naples under the direction of a great Antonio Conte, and his influence is visible in the results.”
Reflecting on Osimhen’s early days at Napoli, Caliendo recounted a conversation with a friend: “The first time I saw him play for Napoli, I told my friend that he would cost €200 million.” Yet, in Caliendo’s eyes, things soon went wrong.
“Due to the mismanagement by those in charge of his career, the entire operation has been disappointing, with him entering the market as if he were a discarded shoe,” he lamented.
“Instead, he should have been the leading figure in the world market, but he was not managed properly. De Laurentiis trusted those who reassured him about Osimhen’s multi-million euro transfer, but it’s clear that trust was misplaced.”
Caliendo’s disappointment also extended to Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda.
“Calenda has failed, and it’s clear for everyone to see. There was talk of Chelsea, of PSG, but in the end, he went to Galatasaray, so someone made a mistake.”
Caliendo concluded with a personal note of frustration: “I was very disappointed. I felt sorry for Osimhen, but I felt even more sorry for the person who made him record that video,” he said, referring to a controversial moment in Osimhen’s career trajectory.
In Caliendo’s view, a star who was destined for the pinnacle of the football market has been mismanaged, with Osimhen paying the price on and off the pitch.
Osimhen, however, has had a strong start in Turkey, providing four assists in his first three games.
Galatasaray are keen on keeping the former LOSC Lille player beyond his loan spell.
Their deputy chairman, Ibrahim Hatipoğlu, has ruled out the striker’s exit in the winter, adding that plans are underway to retain him beyond this season.
According to CharityStars, in the 1990 World Cup final in Rome between Germany and Argentina, 12 of the 22 players on the pitch were Caliendo’s clients. Among the most famous players he has worked with are Aldair, Roberto Baggio, Carlos Dunga, Ramon Diaz, Salvatore Schillaci, David Trezeguet, Maicon, and Ederson.
