Osimhen coy on Galatasaray future
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is still uncertain if he will make his loan move to Turkish club Galatasaray a permanent one by summer as top clubs in Europe continue to seek his signature, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in the summer without an option to buy, with the Turkish giants being the last resort for the player who had fallen out with the Napoli hierarchy and also walked away from the negotiation table for potential moves to Chelsea and Saudi Arabia due to personal terms.
Seven months into his loan spell, the Nigerian has continued his prolific goal-scoring run in Turkey, powering Galatasaray to the summit of the Super Lig table with 14 goals and four assists in 19 league matches.
While he continues to raise his profile on the pitch, negotiations are said to be on between his parent club Napoli and potential buyers, including Galatasaray but the 26-year-old isn’t certain of remaining at the club.
“To be honest, I don’t know. A few months ago, nobody thought I would come here,” Osimhen told journalists in the mixed zone after their goalless draw against Fenerbahce on Monday.
“I never believed I would come to a club as big as Galatasaray. For me, I live for the moment. We will see what is going to happen in the summer and I want everybody to understand that I love this club so much and everyone associated with the club.
“It’s really a big privilege to be here and I’m really enjoying my time here.”
True to his love for the club, Osimhen reportedly rejected a deal to join Manchester United during the January transfer window despite the clause in his loan deal which allows him to join any club in January.
According to a report from La Repubblica, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis could not control his anger when reacting to Osimhen’s rejection saying, “Then let him stay where he is. Tell Galatasaray to take Osimhen.”
Meanwhile, Napoli have also rejected a €65m bid from Galatasaray, as the Turkish giants hope to sign the player in a permanent deal. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said the striker will only be sold for his full €75m release clause.
After Monday’s goalless draw at home against rivals Fenerbahce, the unbeaten Galatasaray are still top of the Super Lig table with 64 points, six points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s side.
