Former Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) schedule played a decisive role in the club’s decision not to sign Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen was one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards after scoring 26 league goals in the 2022-23 season to lead Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
McCarthy, who worked under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, said the Nigerian striker was strongly considered during recruitment talks and would have been an ideal fit.
He said: “If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for Afcon.
“I think he would have been very successful there. But it [Afcon] was a big stumbling block.
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“Losing him for so many important matches, the team suffers not having the main striker there.
“So the decision was made. Literally [a] big part was because of the Afcon and Victor Osimhen’s name got scratched off – not a player of interest because of that.”
United instead signed Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta for £72m in August 2023.
Osimhen went on to be crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2023 before leaving Napoli to join Galatasaray on loan in September 2024.
The 27-year-old later completed a permanent move to the Turkish side last July.
