LOSC president Olivier Létang has once again voiced strong criticism of his predecessor, Gérard Lopez, particularly focusing on the controversial transfer of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to Napoli in 2020.
Létang has revealed surprising financial details surrounding the deal, suggesting that the true amount Lille received for the transfer was far less than widely reported.
Speaking on the L’Équipe channel, Létang disclosed that while the official figure for Osimhen’s transfer to Napoli was stated as €77.5 million, the actual sum Lille received amounted to only €7 million.
He explained that the discrepancy was due to the inclusion of four players in the deal, whose combined value he claimed was nearly zero. Létang stated:
“The sale of Osimhen was not €68 million because there were in the balance four players worth €20 million each, whose value was, in fact, zero.
If we do the balance – the purchase of the player, all the intermediaries, the capital gains, the commissions, the sale, and the players who arrived – there are about €7 million in the club’s coffers.”
This revelation underscores Létang’s continued dissatisfaction with the financial management of the club under Lopez’s tenure. Létang contrasted the Osimhen deal with the more profitable transactions conducted under his own leadership.
He pointed to the high-profile sales of players such as Carlos Baleba, Amadou Onana, Sven Botman, and Leny Yoro, emphasizing that the money from these transfers entered LOSC’s coffers without the involvement of excessive commissions or intermediaries.
Létang remarked, “LOSC made a lot more money with Carlos Baleba, Amadou Onana, Sven Botman or Leny Yoro enormously. On the players we sold, there were no more commissions, retro-commissions or intermediaries. The money came into the club’s coffers.”
The sale of Osimhen, who has since gone on to become one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards, was initially reported as a €77.5 million transfer, excluding potential bonuses.
Létang’s comments appear to be part of a broader critique of Lopez’s management, which also included overseeing the relegation of Girondins de Bordeaux to France’s National 2 division.
As for Osimhen’s future, the 25-year-old forward, currently on loan at a Turkish club, remains under contract with Napoli until 2026.
His impressive performances in Italy continue to attract significant attention, and speculation about a potential move to the Premier League remains rife.
