Gary Lineker Claims Character Concerns Deterred Top Clubs From Signing Victor Osimhen

Former England and Barcelona striker, Gary Lineker, has revealed that several elite European clubs opted against signing Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen over concerns about his off-field discipline, despite his undeniable talent.

Osimhen, once the most sought-after striker in the world, sealed a €75 million move to Turkish giants after strong links to Premier League heavyweights like Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker praised Osimhen’s on-field brilliance but hinted that behavioral red flags raised doubts among suitors.

“I saw Osimhen play a couple of times against Leicester in the Europa League. He was so impressive, and I’ve followed his career since then. He was absolutely brilliant for Napoli sensational, really,” Lineker said.

“But I hear through the grapevine that some clubs are a bit nervous because he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So apparently, there are slight concerns about his character in that regard.”

These reported off-field absences, rather than a lack of technical ability, are believed to have spooked some of Europe’s top clubs, deterring them from making a concrete move for the prolific striker during the 2025 summer transfer window.

Despite the whispers, Osimhen remains one of the game’s most lethal attackers, and his move to Turkey is seen by many as a fresh chapter where he can silence critics and rebuild his image while continuing to score goals.