Former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba has urged Czech Republic outfit Viktoria Plzen to ease negotiations with Italian Serie A side Lazio over the potential transfer of young striker Rafiu Durosinmi, calling the move a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.
Over a week ago, Lazio made formal contact with Viktoria Plzen regarding a potential deal, but no significant progress has been made since. This has reportedly led to frustration from both Durosinmi’s camp and the Italian club.
The 21-year-old will have one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season, but Viktoria Plzen are demanding a fee of €4 million—more than Lazio’s valuation of €3 million—which has caused negotiations to stall.
In an exclusive interview with Kick Off Nigeria on Wednesday, Ikpeba, who featured for top European sides including Monaco and Borussia Dortmund, called on Viktoria Plzen to lower their asking price to avoid derailing the player’s dream.
“We have to respect Viktoria Plzen’s demands because they own the player, but I think they should lower their demands for the sake of his career,” the 51-year-old said. “Situations like these can crush a young player’s spirit, especially when they feel betrayed by the club.”
“It’s not every day that a club like Lazio knocks on your door, and for a player, it’s always something of a dream. So for me, they shouldn’t deny him this once-in-a-lifetime chance. He is a super talent, and I believe he can blossom into a great player if allowed to join Lazio.”
Meanwhile, Durosinmi has made 10 appearances for Viktoria Plzen across the Czech First Division, UEFA Europa League, and Czech Cup this season, scoring five goals and providing one assist—a clear indication of his growing potential.
