Former Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that the club opted against signing Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in 2023 due to concerns over his potential unavailability for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
McCarthy, who now serves as the head coach of the Kenyan national team, disclosed that despite Osimhen being the top target for the club’s attacking reinforcement, the prospect of losing him mid-season to the continental tournament was deemed too significant a risk.
In an interview with the BBC, McCarthy detailed the recruitment discussions that took place during his time on Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff.
“Erik ten Hag said to put it on the board about the attacking players we’re looking to recruit, and Victor Osimhen was at the top of the list,” McCarthy stated. “He could be a great asset to the team. He scores goals, he works exceptionally hard.”
However, the conversation shifted when the issue of the Africa Cup of Nations was raised by a scout. The tournament, held in early 2024, would have required Osimhen to leave Manchester United for several weeks at a critical point in the season had a deal been finalized.
“It was a big stumbling block,” McCarthy explained. “If you spend £100 million on a player, you don’t want to lose him for AFCON. And Victor Osimhen’s kind of name got scratched off, the verdict becomes, ‘not worth it.’ It really does happen.”
McCarthy admitted the decision left him feeling conflicted. “It made me kind of sad as well because I was like, my God, my whole career I fought, wanted to represent my country because I’m African and they need to respect that. But, yeah, paying all that money for him… he goes to AFCON, he gets injured, he comes back and then 100 million down the drain.”
The revelation sheds light on the strategic considerations Premier League clubs must weigh when targeting top African talent, balancing significant transfer fees against the potential disruption of major international tournaments. Osimhen, who was instrumental in Napoli’s Serie A title win that season, remains one of the most coveted strikers in world football.
