Victor Osimhen has openly revealed why he turned down the chance to join Liverpool last summer. According to the Nigerian striker, one particular player was the main reason behind his decision, as he strongly disliked the way the player approaches the game.
Victor Osimhen Has Openly Revealed Why He Turned Down the Chance to Join Liverpool Last Summer — The Nigerian Striker Points to One Player as the Main Reason, Admitting He Strongly Disliked the Way the Player Approaches the Game
Victor Osimhen Has Openly Revealed Why He Turned Down the Chance to Join Liverpool Last Summer — The Nigerian Striker Points to One Player as the Main Reason, Admitting He Strongly Disliked the Way the Player Approaches the Game
When Liverpool came knocking last summer, the football world believed Victor Osimhen was on the brink of becoming the Reds’ next superstar striker. Fresh from a stunning Serie A campaign with Napoli — where his goals fired the club to a historic Scudetto — the Nigerian forward was one of the most sought-after names in world football.
With his pace, strength, and lethal finishing, many fans felt Osimhen was the perfect fit for Liverpool’s attacking machine. Yet, in a revelation that has now stunned supporters across Europe, Osimhen has explained why he ultimately rejected the Premier League giants.
And it wasn’t about money. It wasn’t about the club’s project. It wasn’t even about his comfort at Napoli. Instead, Osimhen pointed directly at one Liverpool player — admitting that his personal dislike of the way this player approaches the game was enough to make him turn down the offer.
Osimhen Speaks Out: “I Couldn’t See Myself Playing Alongside Him”
In an interview with close Nigerian media outlets, Osimhen didn’t hold back when asked why he passed on Liverpool’s offer despite the glamour and prestige of playing at Anfield.
“Liverpool are a massive club with an incredible history and amazing fans, but sometimes it’s not just about the name of the club. For me, football is about relationships, mentality, and the way the game is played. There is one player in that team whose approach I really do not like. I couldn’t see myself playing alongside him, so I decided not to make that move.”
While Osimhen stopped short of publicly naming the player outright, insiders and fans have been quick to speculate, pointing to a few potential figures in Liverpool’s squad who may not align with Osimhen’s direct, intense, and hard-working playing philosophy.
Clashes of Philosophy
Victor Osimhen is known for his relentless style — chasing every ball, fighting for every inch, and demanding the same from his teammates. Sources suggest his issue stems from a belief that certain Liverpool players do not show the same grit and mentality he values, particularly in high-pressure moments.
One football analyst explained:
“Osimhen is an old-school striker in terms of hunger and work ethic. If he feels that another forward doesn’t match that, it will instantly put him off. The fact that this was enough to make him reject Liverpool shows how serious he was about it.”
Liverpool’s Perspective
From Liverpool’s side, Osimhen was a dream target. The club saw him as the ideal long-term replacement for an aging Mohamed Salah or as a strike partner to Darwin Núñez in an evolving front line. Jurgen Klopp (at the time still in charge before Arne Slot’s arrival) admired Osimhen’s physicality and mentality, believing he would thrive under Liverpool’s high-intensity pressing system.
However, the deal stalled. Officially, Napoli’s high valuation was cited as the reason, but Osimhen’s latest revelation paints a different picture — one that fans had never expected.
Reaction From Fans
As expected, Liverpool supporters have been divided by Osimhen’s comments.
One fan wrote on social media:
“This is shocking. To turn down Liverpool because of one player? I wonder who he’s talking about. But fair play to him for being honest.”
Another, more critical fan responded:
“If you don’t want to play for us because of a personal issue with one player, maybe it’s better you stayed away. At Liverpool, it’s about the team, not individuals.”
Nigerian fans, meanwhile, have rallied around their superstar striker, praising him for staying true to his principles and not compromising on his values.
What Next for Osimhen?
For now, Osimhen remains at Napoli, where he continues to be their talisman and one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards. But speculation about his next move refuses to go away. With Chelsea, Arsenal, and even clubs from Saudi Arabia circling, it is only a matter of time before another mega-offer arrives.
As for Liverpool, they have since shifted their attention elsewhere, but Osimhen’s comments will surely sting. After all, very few players ever reject Anfield — and even fewer do so because of dislike for a single teammate.
A Story That Will Not Go Away
Whether Osimhen eventually reveals the name of the player in question or not, this revelation will fuel debates for months to come. Did he mean a forward rival like Darwin Núñez? A senior figure like Mohamed Salah? Or perhaps a midfielder whose style clashed with his own vision of the game?
What is certain is that Liverpool came close to signing one of the most lethal strikers in the world — only for personal chemistry, not finances, to ruin the deal.
⚡ Victor Osimhen’s honesty has once again shown why he is one of football’s most outspoken stars. But his words will leave Liverpool fans wondering: did they lose a generational striker simply because of dressing-room incompatibility?
