England’s worst-behaved footballer is set to LEAVE the country: Championship manager confirms move to Italy is imminent for star after headbutting, biting and racism shame
One of English football’s most controversial characters is set to leave the country after agreeing a move to Serie A.
Preston North End’s Milutin Osmajic – who has served bans for biting, headbutting, and alleged racial abuse – is on his way to Genoa according to manager Paul Heckingbottom.
The striker’s reported £3million exit will be seen as a blow at the Lancashire club, where he remains popular despite his misdemeanours.
And Preston will need a replacement for their star striker quickly after losing their first two Championship matches against Bolton and Wolves. His exit is not fully confirmed but appears imminent after Heckingbottom said the deal was agreed.
Osmajic arrived as Preston’s record signing for around £2.1m in September 2023 but quickly became known for his thuggery on the pitch.
In October 2024, he was handed an eight-game ban for biting Blackburn’s Owen Beck on the neck the previous month in a 0-0 derby draw at Deepdale.
Milutin Osmajic is set to leave Preston North End after a string of controversial incidents
The striker – who once bit Blackburn’s Owen Beck on the neck – is set to move to Genoa
Beck showed off his wound in the aftermath of that incident – but that was only the start
Montenegro international Osmajic left teeth marks on the shoulder of Rovers defender but escaped a red card at the time as referee Matt Donohue had not seen the incident.
Donohue actually sent off Beck, who had kicked out at Duane Holmes moments earlier.
In February 2025, he was accused of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during another goalless draw at Deepdale. He strongly refuted the allegation.
It took until November of that year for a decision to be reached, with the Football Association handing him a nine-game ban.
The Regulatory Commission also slapped him with a £21,000 fine and a mandatory education course.
Reports suggested that Hannibal had reported him for calling him a ‘black man,’ but his defenders insisted he had said ‘f*** you, bad man’.
Preston took his side in the affair, saying they were ‘extremely disappointed’ at the ban and adding: ‘We note that the outcome was determined on the ‘Balance of Probabilities’ rather than one that is ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’.
Burnley players snubbed shaking hands with Osmajic before their FA Cup fifth-round tie two weeks later. Osmajic scored in the game and mocked Burnley fans in his celebration.
He was handed a nine-match ban after being accused of racism towards Hannibal Mejbri
The Montenegro international also headbuted Hull City’s John Lundstram last season
‘I will not be silent about what happened today,’ Hannibal wrote on social media after the first match, in which the incident took place, on February 15. ‘I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it.
‘That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch.’
Then, in January last season, he further sullied his reputation by headbutting Hull City’s John Lundstram during a 3-0 defeat.
The forward initially pushed Lundstram away, leading to players from both sides and referee Stephen Martin running over to the pair.
Osmajic then headbutted Lundstram directly in front of the referee, with the official quick to reach for his pocket and show him a red card after leading him away from a crowd of players.
He was seen initially smiling following the dismissal, before raising his shirt to cover his face as he made his way off the field.
Osmajic was given a three-match ban for violent conduct. The incident contributed to a melee which saw one member of staff from each side being sent off.
Heckingbottom said in the aftermath: ‘A lack of discipline is totally unacceptable. In my time here if he gets three games for that, it will have been 20 games missed.
‘They are different issues, don’t get me wrong, but a sending off for a tackle or something to help the team is a lot different.’
‘He has not learned his lesson. The issues are totally unconnected in terms of football aren’t they.
‘In terms of other things, the word professional, we are professional people and footballers, there is a way to act.
‘Whether that’s a tackle on the pitch, discipline away from it, training ground, there is a way to be professional.’
Despite his flaws, Osmajic receives a lot of support from Preston fans and will leave the club with a record of 31 goals from 102 appearances.
