Rome (AFP)

A colossal transfer, between 60 and 81 million bonuses included according to the sources: the arrival of the Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is the symbol of the ambitions of Naples, but above all a superb economic blow for Lille.

At 21, Osimhen succeeds Nicolas Pépé, who left last summer for Arsenal against 80 million euros, in the list of spectacular summer transfers from the northern club, after having already taken his place in the field.

Recruited for 12 M EUR on August 1 from the Belgian neighbor of Charleroi, Osimhen quickly proved indispensable at the forefront of the Mastiff attack.

Very fast and skilful, as comfortable in depth as with his back to goal, the Super Eagle displayed astonishing quality of maturity for his age and brought back a significant number of points for Losc.

With 18 goals, including 13 in the league, the Nigerian exploded on the national scene but also in the Champions League, where he scored two goals and impressed the opponents of the Mastiffs (Ajax Amsterdam, Chelsea, Valencia).

His departure allows Lille to achieve colossal added value, in line with the model of "player trading" adopted by President Gérard Lopez and his sports advisor Luis Campos.

- Between 60 and 80 million -

Neither club gave financial details of the operation, the amount of which, very variously assessed according to the sources, is anyway very important.

Sources close to the case in Lille have thus assured AFP that the transfer was concluded for EUR 70 million plus 10 bonus. This sum corresponds to that mentioned by other French media such as L'Equipe or RMC, which speak of 80 or 81 million euros including bonus, a little more than the sale of Pépé to Arsenal.

In Italy, the media put forward smaller figures, between EUR 50 million plus bonuses or 60 million.

Although this sum is capital for its accounts, the northern club did not need this jackpot to get the green light from the DNCG, the financial policeman, who had twice pronounced a "stay of action" on the next budget .

On the player's side, a change of agent delayed the signing and the last details were long to define, the contracts drawn up by Filmauro, the company of the Neapolitan president Aurelio De Laurentiis being traditionally long and complex, to the point of becoming a subject of joke in Italian football.

But Osimhen has therefore chosen Italy to continue growing, while he was initially tipped in England.

In Naples, where he visited at the beginning of July, he will find in Gennaro Gattuso a coach convinced of his potential and ready to quickly secure him a starting place.

- Koulibaly reassures -

The Polish Milik is indeed on the start and Mertens, top scorer in the club's history, is 33 years old and does not embody the future.

The sum disbursed by Napoli is a form of guarantee of confidence for Osimhen because it is very far from the standards of the club, in good financial health, and of Serie A in general.

At € 60m, Osimhen would be Napoli's biggest transfer by far, ahead of Lozano and Higuain, both arriving for around € 40m in 2019 and 2013.

And at 80 M, he would be on the podium in Serie A history, behind Ronaldo (100 M) and Higuain (90 M) at Juventus, but ahead of De Ligt and Lukaku, who arrived last summer at Juventus and Inter Milan for around 70 M each.

The operation is therefore considerable, especially since Naples will not play the next Champions League ... unless they win the current one.

Even before arriving, Osimhen has in any case already been reassured by Kalidou Koulibaly, who promised him that the tifosi would welcome him more than with open arms.

"I spoke with him but he already knew everything. I told him that in Naples, we feel very good," said the Senegalese defender to Radio Kiss Kiss.

"When I arrived I was a little scared too. But after two weeks I was integrated and felt at home. Naples is a beautiful city with superb tifosi. Here, there are only enthusiasts football doesn't exist anywhere else. "

© 2020 AFP