The Africa Cup of Nations schedule was a decisive factor in why Manchester United did not pursue a move for Victor Osimhen, according to the club’s former first-team coach Benni McCarthy.

Osimhen had drawn strong interest from Europe’s top clubs after netting 26 league goals in the 2022-23 campaign to inspire Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

McCarthy, who was part of the coaching staff at Old Trafford under then manager Erik ten Hag, said he was involved in discussions over striker recruitment and believed Osimhen would “fit perfect” at United.

However, the biennial staging of the Africa Cup of Nations, which often takes place during the European season, led the club to reconsider. Despite Osimhen initially being “at the top of the list”, United ultimately shifted their focus elsewhere.

“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.

“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 secured the signing of Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta for £72m in August 2023. The Denmark international went on to score 26 goals in 95 appearances before joining Napoli on loan last September.

Osimhen, meanwhile, was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2023. He later departed Napoli to join Galatasaray on loan in September 2024, and the 27-year-old completed a permanent move to the Turkish side last July.

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