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Gent boss defends asking price placed on Nigerian forward, Gift Orban
By Wale Mustapha
Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Belgian side, Gent, Michel Louwagie has disclosed reasons for placing €30m asking price on Nigerian striker, Gift Orban in the last transfer window.
Orban was an instant hit upon his arrival in Belgium with incredible numbers both in the Pro League and on the European fronts.
His outstanding performances in the outgone season made him subject of interests from top clubs in the Premier League and Europe with Tottenham leading his chase. However, the €30m asking price placed on the 21 year old warded off his suitors as none of them could not meet the valuations.
On a radio station in Netherlands, Louwagie believes the Nigerian youngster who joined Gent in January from Stabaek for just €3m has cost ten times than what was paid on him.
Due to this, Gent was heavily criticized for asking too much than they expended on Orban therby blocked his move to a bigger club. Louwagie, however is not impressed with such talks as he suggested that Orban would have been priced higher had a Dutch side were looking to cash in on him.
“No, that has already made me angry. Why do Ajax and PSV sell players like Antony for 95 million and others for easily 40 to 50 million?,” the Gent CEO told media.
“And why should we think that 30 million is too much, even though the competition here is at least as good? Just look at how Dutch clubs are doing in Europe.
“But we are Flemish who look at each other’s plates and are jealous. Instead of all demanding higher prices and helping Belgian football progress. No, rather capital injections – 500 million in the last five years in Belgium – and then complaining.
“We really need to stop doing that. Dutch clubs only had a deficit of 1 million in the 2021-2022 season, while we had a deficit of 150 million. They close their gaps by selling at higher prices.”
Orban has 26 goals and two assists in only 31 games in all competitions for Gent.
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