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By: Johnny Edward.
KAA Gent CEO, Michel Louwagie, says Gift Orban is worth 10 times the amount the club paid to secure his services in January amid reports that the Nigerian is overpriced, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Orban joined Gent from Norwegian second-division side, Stabaek, for a reported fee of €3.3m nine months ago and has been in a rich vein of form for the Buffalo, scoring goals regularly in the Belgian Pro League and in European competitions ever since.
The 21-year-old’s form has seen him linked with moves to Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham while Ligue 1 club, with his valuation rising to €30m.
Despite his price tag, no club met Gent’s financial demands for Orban and with the transfer window shut, he will be with the Belgian side at least until January.
Speaking in an interview with Belgian daily, Nieuwsblad, Louwagie said Orban would have been valued higher if a Dutch side were looking to cash in on him.
“No, that has already made me angry,” Louwagie said.
“Why do Ajax and PSV sell players like Antony for €80m and others for easily €40m to €50m?
“And why should we think that €30m is too much for Orban? Even though the competition here is at least as good? Just look at how Dutch clubs are doing in Europe.
“But we are Flemish (Low Franconian) 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 – €500m in the last five years in Belgium – and then complaining.
“We really need to stop doing that. Dutch clubs only had a deficit of €1m in the 2021-2022 season, while we had a deficit of €150m. They close their gaps by selling at higher prices.”