'It Was a Big Stumbling Block' - Benni McCarthy Reveals Why Manchester United Abandoned Victor Osimhen Transfer

Manchester United's pursuit of top striker target Victor Osimhen was ultimately abandoned due to concerns over his potential absence for the Africa Cup of Nations, according to former first-team coach Benni McCarthy.

The Harambee Stars coach revealed that the Nigerian international was "at the top of the list" for the club after an exceptional 2022-23 season where he scored 26 league goals, leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Working under manager Erik ten Hag at the time, Benni McCarthy was convinced that Osimhen had the right mentality and skillset to succeed at Old Trafford.

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"He scores goals, he works exceptionally hard, and he's a player (who is) immune to the noise," Benni McCarthy explained to BBC World Service. "I think he would have been very successful there."

The former coach highlighted Victor Osimhen's resilience, suggesting the pressures of playing for United would not have fazed him.

"Playing for Man Utd won't have a lot of effect on him because of what the boy has gone through in his life. Where he comes from, he's seen way worse than this," McCarthy added.

"Him not scoring for five games in a row won't affect him. He'll just keep going on because he knows what struggle is about."

However, the mid-season scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations proved to be the decisive factor in the club's decision-making process.

"If you spend 100m pounds on a player, you don't want to lose him for Afcon," McCarthy stated. "It (Afcon) was a big stumbling block."

He elaborated on the impact such an absence would have on the team, saying, "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."

Consequently, Manchester United shifted their focus and signed Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for £72 million in August 2023. Osimhen, who was named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, later completed a move to Galatasaray.

The failed transfer remains a significant "what if" for Manchester United, a potential blockbuster deal derailed not by a player's talent, but by the international football calendar.