Gary Lineker Alleges Top European Clubs Rejected Victor Osimhen Over 'Character Concerns'

In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, former England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker has claimed that several top European clubs backed out of signing Nigerian star striker Victor Osimhen due to what he described as "concerns about his character."

Lineker made the comments during a recent episode of his The Rest is Football podcast, where he discussed the intricacies of high-profile transfers and the unseen factors that influence club decisions. According to Lineker, while Osimhen’s athletic prowess and goal-scoring consistency have made him one of the most sought-after strikers in world football, “some clubs had second thoughts due to what they perceived as personality red flags.”

Although Lineker stopped short of naming the clubs involved or citing specific incidents, his statement has triggered widespread debate and anger, especially among Nigerian fans and Osimhen supporters. Many took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend the 26-year-old Napoli forward, pointing to his exemplary work ethic, charitable initiatives in Nigeria, and lack of any serious disciplinary record.

Osimhen, who scored 26 goals to help Napoli win the 2022/2023 Serie A title—their first in over three decades—has been linked in recent months with moves to clubs like Chelsea, PSG, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, with varying levels of reported interest. However, several of those negotiations reportedly stalled, either due to Napoli’s asking price or disagreements on personal terms.

Lineker’s remarks now suggest another, deeper layer to the story.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano has yet to corroborate the claim, but sources close to the Osimhen camp reportedly dismissed the allegation as “baseless and disrespectful.” In an Instagram story posted shortly after the episode aired, Osimhen appeared to respond cryptically with the words: "Keep talking. I keep scoring."

Back home, Nigerian sports analysts have come out in his defense, with former Super Eagles star Sunday Oliseh tweeting, “Victor Osimhen has been nothing but a model athlete and ambassador for Nigeria. No amount of coded slander will erase that.”

Osimhen, who was recently named CAF Men’s Player of the Year 2023, remains one of the most prolific African forwards in Europe and is a cornerstone of the Nigerian national team. With a potential move still looming before the close of the transfer window, Lineker’s comments have only added more drama to an already tense transfer saga.

Whether this new narrative affects Osimhen’s market value or future move remains to be seen. But what’s certain is that the Nigerian forward’s character is now under the spotlight—and his next move might be the loudest answer yet.