German automaker Mercedes-Benz has filed a complaint with Italian authorities against Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen over an alleged unpaid vehicle leasing debt of €90,000, approximately ₦142 million.
According to reports by Napolista and multiple Italian media outlets published on April 28, 2026, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Italia lodged a formal complaint with the Carabinieri station in Crescenzago, Milan. The company claims Osimhen failed to complete payments for a hybrid Mercedes GLE leased in 2023 during his time at Napoli and has also not returned the vehicle after the lease agreement expired.
The 27-year-old forward is accused of missing monthly instalments throughout the contract period, allowing the debt to accumulate to €90,000. The matter has escalated beyond a civil dispute, with Italian authorities opening preliminary investigations into a charge of appropriazione indebita, the Italian legal term for embezzlement. Mercedes-Benz’s legal team is expected to make formal contact with the player’s representatives to obtain his account before pursuing further judicial action.
The vehicle in question is a Mercedes GLE hybrid that Osimhen reportedly used while in Naples. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that the dispute centres on unpaid monthly instalments and the alleged unlawful retention of leased property. Gazeta Express added that Osimhen “not only had not paid the car rental installments, but had also ‘forgotten’ to hand over its keys at the end of the 3-year contract.”
The report comes despite Osimhen’s significant earnings. The striker currently earns north of €20 million annually at Galatasaray, making him the highest-paid player in the history of the Turkish Süper Lig. He joined the Istanbul club last summer after four seasons at Napoli, where he led the club to their first Scudetto in nearly four decades and finished as Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
“Consequently, the 27-year-old striker has allegedly accrued a debt of €90,000 (approximately ₦142 million). The situation is unexpected, given that Osimhen’s weekly wages have significantly been more than that amount since his title-winning season in Naples,” Vanguard reported.
Osimhen is known for his affinity for luxury jewelry and high-end vehicles. He recently showcased his car collection to content creator Carter Efe, featuring a G-Wagon, Lamborghini Urus, Lamborghini Revuelto, Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge, and a Mercedes-Benz — the latter likely being the vehicle in question. Despite the alleged debt, he was seen on the streets of Istanbul behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Revuelto worth 500,000 euros.
The striker has also built a reputation for philanthropy. Just last weekend, he sponsored a group of Nigerian fans to fly to Istanbul for the derby against Fenerbahce, where he scored in a decisive 3-0 victory.
As of the time of reporting, neither Osimhen nor his representatives have released an official statement. The matter is expected to be addressed swiftly as the player continues his season in Turkey, where he remains a key figure for both club and country.
