Lille president Olivier Letang has aimed criticism at his predecessor Gerard Lopez over the sale of Victor Osimhen to Napoli, citing sales to Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton, Manchester United and Newcastle United as more profitable for the club.
Mondo Napoli cover comments from the Lille president today after an appearance on L’Equipe du Soir, in which he revealed the club barely made anything from the sale of the Nigerian striker.
The website explains that Osimhen joined Napoli in a deal worth around €70m, but the overall package was less due to the inclusion of various players from Napoli’s academy.
These four players were valued at €20m in total, meaning around €50m was supposed to be added to Lille’s coffers from the sale of the striker.
Indeed, Osimhen remains the French club’s second most expensive sale ever behind Nicolas Pepe, who joined Arsenal for €80m in 2019.
He’s then followed by Leny Yoro, who joined Manchester United for €62m, Rafa Leao (AC Milan-€49.5m), Amadou Onana to Everton for €39.87m, Sven Botman to Newcastle United for €37m, Eden Hazard (Chelsea – €35m) and Carlos Baleba’s move to Brighton for €27m.
Letang, though, wants to set the record straight and actually insists the deal with Brighton, Everton, Manchester United and Newcastle secured them far more than Osimhen in the long run.
“The net proceeds from the sale of Osimhen were not €68m, because we must remember that there were four players who arrived for €20m, when their value was effectively zero,” he said.
“So, if we balance the operation, including the compensation of all the intermediaries, the capital gains, the commissions, around €7m.
“In practice, Lille earned much more money with Carlos Baléba (€30m to Brighton), Amadou Onana (€40m to Everton), Sven Botman and Leny Yoro.
“Enormously more, because we did not pay commissions, intermediaries and so on for these players. All the money entered the club’s coffers.”
