Manchester United opted against signing Victor Osimhen due to AFCON concerns – Benni McCarthy reveals

Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed why a potential move for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to Manchester United in 2023 never materialised.

McCarthy, who served as a striker coach under Erik ten Hag at the English Premier League club for two seasons, said Osimhen’s participation in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations played a decisive role in the deal falling through.

At the time, Osimhen was excelling for Italian side Napoli and had been linked with a high-profile transfer to United. However, the Red Devils opted not to pursue the move, and the striker remained at Napoli before later joining Galatasaray in 2024, shortly after McCarthy had left Manchester.

Speaking to Newsday on the BBC World Service, McCarthy explained the reasoning: “If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for Afcon,” McCarthy told Newsday on the BBC World Service.

“I think he would have been very successful there. But it [Afcon] was a big stumbling block.

“Losing him for so many important matches, the team suffers not having the main striker there,” he added.

“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,” he added. 

Since joining the Turkish side, Osimhen has socred 35 goals in 46 appearances.