Tag: Victor  Osimhen

Amid  links  to Manchester United   and Chelsea  in January, transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has  claimed  that  Victor Osimhen has no interest in departing Galatasaray midway through the season, adding  the  Super  Eagles  forward does not even want to speak with other teams at this stage.

The 25-year-old Nigeria striker has hit the ground running in Turkey after completing a season-long loan move from Napoli to Galatasaray in September, scoring nine goals in his opening 11 games in all competitions.

There had been intense speculation surrounding Osimhen’s future throughout the summer transfer window, with  reported links to Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli were also heavily linked  until  Napoli increased their asking price for Osimhen.

Just a month on from Osimhen’s arrival in Istanbul, Napoli confirmed that the attacker could leave the Serie A club on a permanent basis in January due to a break clause in his Galatasaray loan deal.

But Di Marzio has  reportedly  provided an update  via

 “First of all, Osimhen wants to finish the season at Galatasaray. He is very happy to be there and doesn’t want to talk about other clubs,” Di Marzio told bettingexpert.com. “He wants to play and win there.

“I will leave a small percentage for Galatasaray to try to buy him and I will discuss with Napoli to find an agreement.

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“It would probably be less than the release clause, but Galatasaray are so happy with him that they plan to find a solution with Napoli.”

He added:  “I know that a club in Saudi Arabia wants him. I don’t know the name of the club, but they are prepared to buy him for Napoli and get him back at the end of the season.

“The problem is that they want to sign him now and Osimhen doesn’t want to sign now, he wants to wait.

“He wants to use this season as an opportunity to let the Premier League clubs decide whether to make an offer to Napoli.”

According to Di Marzio, PSG are still in the running for Osimhen’s signature after failing with a bid for the Nigerian in the summer.

“PSG are always an opportunity, and they’re the only club who have made an offer for him this summer,” he continued. “They offered €220m for Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, so maybe they’ll try to get both again.

“But he wants to finish the season at Galatasaray, even if the Saudi Arabian club want to sign him now.”

Osimhen, who has quickly won over Galatasaray fans with his barnstorming start in Turkish football, appeared to rule out a January exit following the side’s Europa League win over Tottenham.

“I’m here as a Galatasaray player, I’m happy here,” Osimhen told reporters after netting twice in a 3-2 victory last month.

“Since I came the Galatasaray fans, the club, I saw how big a family this club is. The way they have treated me and my family in a wonderful manner. It’s important to be able to give them my all on the pitch.”

Nigerian  ace speaks on botched move to Chelsea

Nigeria International striker Victor  Osimhen  has shed light on  his  botched  move to the English Premier League  during the Summer Transfer Window, adding he came close to completing a move to Stamford Bridge before agreeing a surprise move to Galatasaray

He further revealed that  it was his plan was to remain at Napoli prior to agreeing a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray amid interest from Chelsea.

The Blues had been heavily linked with the 25-year-old and went as far as reportedly agreeing a fee with Napoli but Saudi Arabia giants Al-Ahli had also agreed terms. However, the transfer saga meant he was unable to move to either clubs as their respective windows had closed.

As a result, Osimhen completed the temporary switch to the Turkish Super Lig but there is said to be a break clause in the deal that could see the striker move on in the winter window.

Speaking to the Turkish media TRT Spor, he admitted he ‘wouldn’t let anyone’ decide his future and that he planned to stay in Naples until January.

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“I had plans to stay there and wait for three or four months and leave in January, but I think for me it was fair also to stay there because I wouldn’t let anyone decide for me,” the Nigerian striker said. “It was important for me to stay there since I didn’t get the deserved move that I really preferred.

“When I received the call from the Galatasaray coach, it was really convincing. He said what he wanted to do this season and what he wanted to achieve. I could see what he had set for himself as a man, a coach, and a father.

“I think I fit in this plan and coming to a team with already a lot of quality players with great ambition, as a footballer it was easy to come. When I came I could see how serious Galatasaray are as a club. For me it was the right decision, but also for my family and my daughter.”

Meanwhile, Napoli director Mauro Meluse has not ruled out a move for the striker in the new year and admitted the club will ‘consider offers.’

“He no longer wanted to be part of the first team,” Meluso told Corriere dello Sport. “He had received an important offer even before I arrived at Napoli, but De Laurentiis didn’t consider it because he thought about the club’s good.

“He may have made wrong decisions but did them to keep Napoli competitive. It was a last-minute solution so he would not lose the first three months [of the season], then, in January, they’ll see.”

Elsewhere, TEAMtalk has indicated that Galatasaray are not planning on triggering the prospect of making Osimhen’s move permanent in the new year.

It’s claimed there is a break clause that allows clubs to sign Osimhen in January for a fee of £62.8million (€75m). It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will knock on the door this time around.