Nigeria star Victor Osimhen has torn into the agent of Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for claiming the striker will move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
In a furious rant on his Instagram stories, Osimhen described Mamuka Jugeli as “a piece of filth” and “a disgrace.”
Kvaratskhelia’s agent had earlier cast doubt over the striker’s commitment to Napoli and suggested he will move for big money next summer despite recently signing a new contract.
This did not sit well with Osimhen, with the 24-year-old taking to social media to call out his teammate’s agent while warning him to stay away from his business.
Osimhen wrote: “Dear Mamuka Jugeli, you are a piece of filth and a disgrace. I'm embarrassed at your sense of reasoning. Dumbf*ck! KEEP MY NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!”
What exactly did Mamuka Jugeli say about Osimhen?
In December, Osimhen put pen to paper to extend his contract at Napoli until 2026. The new contract saw the player player’s salary doubled to around €10 million per season.
A release clause of between €120 million and €130 million was also reportedly inserted in the contract of the newly-crowned CAF Footballer of the Year. But speaking to Georgian outlet 1TV, Jugeli who represents Napoli forward Kvaratskhelia, suggested his client was more committed to the Italian club than Osimhen.
He further claimed that the Nigeria international would readily jump at an offer from a Saudi Pro League side, insisting that could happen as early as next summer.
“[Victor] Osimhen signed a new contract, but do you really think he will spend his entire career at Napoli? I can already tell you he will go to Saudi Arabia next summer,” Jugeli said, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Napoli have raised his salary, but Khvicha would not accept such a transfer even for €1bn. He’d rather play for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Manchester City. Kvaratskhelia has different targets and preferences.
“Kvaratskhelia wants to have success, and he is already achieving it. He is among the best three players in the world. All will happen at the right time, it’s still early. No team would reject the chance to sign him.”
It remains to be seen how Jugeli’s comments would affect Osimhen’s relationship with Kvaratskhelia, with the telepathy between the duo propelling Napoli to the Serie A title last season.
Osimhen focused on winning AFCON
While Osimhen didn’t resist the temptation of putting Kvaratskhelia’s agent in his place, the player is currently preparing for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Nigeria.
The Napoli forward remains the Super Eagles’ biggest hope of winning the tournament following the withdrawals of Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Boniface due to injury, while Kelechi Iheanacho is also a major doubt. Jose Peseiro’s side has been drawn in Group A, alongside hosts the Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and will begin their AFCON campaign against the National Thunder on January 14 in Abidjan.
Speaking at a dinner held at the team’s training base in Abu Dhabi ahead of their departure for the AFCON, Osimhen revealed his ambition to win the tournament. He further urged his teammates to rise to the occasion, adding that the Super Eagles have enough talent to conquer the continent.
“The most important thing for us now is to go to Ivory Coast and win the tournament. I believe in this group; we have a bunch of talented players to execute the job. Fingers crossed, and we are going to do so well.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria national team departed for the AFCON on Wednesday, January 10, after a successful camping in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Fans of the Super Eagles will, however, be wary of their form going into the tournament after they suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat in an international friendly against Guinea last week.
