Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has openly shared the reasons behind his decision to remain at Galatasaray, despite receiving several lucrative offers from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The forward explained that one of the most important factors in his decision was the value and respect he felt at Galatasaray, something he believed would be hard to find elsewhere. Osimhen, who officially joined Galatasaray on a permanent transfer from Napoli during the summer window, revealed that he had serious interest from elite clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Al-Hilal. These teams made strong attempts to secure his signature, but the 26-year-old made a heartfelt choice. Speaking after Galatasaray’s 3-1 victory against Çaykur Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday, Osimhen shared: “Deep down, I already knew where I wanted to be. Galatasaray valued me as both a player and a person. My fans and my club gave me something different. Here, there is mutual respect — whether you are in the starting eleven or coming off the bench, you are always appreciated.” He admitted that the most challenging aspect of his decision was the financial temptation from the massive offers he received. “Of course, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in those big offers. They were from top clubs with huge financial backing. But at the end of the day, my happiness and sense of belonging at Galatasaray mattered most.” Osimhen concluded by reaffirming his commitment and joy to continue his journey in Turkey, despite the heavy competition for his services across Europe and beyond.
Donnarumma Reportedly Seeking Same Salary as Osimhen at Galatasaray – Uğur Karakullukçu Galatasaray analyst and sports broadcaster Uğur Karakullukçu has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma is now requesting a salary equivalent to that of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, following the latter’s unveiling at Galatasaray. Speaking during his analysis on his personal YouTube channel, Karakullukçu broke down Galatasaray’s current goalkeeping plans amid their recent high-profile signing. The Turkish Süper Lig champions are in the market for a new first-choice goalkeeper and are currently showing strong interest in Manchester City’s Ederson as a summer transfer target. It was officially confirmed this week that Galatasaray has secured the services of Victor Osimhen, with his medical examination slated for Thursday. “Donnarumma left Milan—a club where he rose through the youth ranks—at a time when his departure left the team uncertain,” Karakullukçu stated, according to Turkish outlet Habersarikirmizi. “He has now conquered every major trophy at PSG and is reportedly seeking a fresh contract. He is demanding a salary that matches Victor Osimhen’s at Galatasaray: €25 million annually, in addition to performance-related bonuses.” Karakullukçu warned that the Turkish club may not gain financially from bringing in a goalkeeper of Donnarumma’s wage demands. “You’ve already stretched your budget significantly for Osimhen. Signing Donnarumma as well could raise your total spending to nearly €250 million. Is that truly necessary for Galatasaray?” He added that a more realistic and financially sound option could be Ederson. “Last season, the club had success with 39-year-old veteran Fernando Muslera. Bringing in Ederson, who is 31, could be a smart and balanced move for the team.”
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Turkish football giants Galatasaray have encountered a serious hurdle in their quest to secure Victor Osimhen’s services on a long-term deal from Napoli. The Italian Serie A side has officially rejected the €75 million release clause, which would have activated the Nigerian striker’s transfer. This update was disclosed by Onyebuchi Onokala, widely known in Nigerian sports media as Buchi Laba, via a post on his verified X account. In his post, Buchi Laba explained that Napoli turned down Galatasaray’s third bid of €75 million, despite it being the stipulated release clause in Osimhen’s current contract. The refusal has created uncertainty over the Super Eagles forward’s future. “Napoli officially turns down Galatasaray €75m 3rd offer for Victor Osimhen. The official Release clause Figure,” Buchi Laba wrote in a tweet posted early Thursday morning. Further explaining the situation, Buchi Laba alleged that Napoli may be deliberately obstructing the move, possibly to redirect the striker to Al Hilal, a prominent Saudi Arabian club known for luring top players with lucrative offers. However, Osimhen is reportedly adamant about not considering a move to Al Hilal, clearly stating that his only preference is to sign for Galatasaray permanently. Despite pressure from Napoli’s management, the Nigerian forward appears resolute in rejecting any potential transfer to Saudi Arabia. The situation escalated further as Osimhen communicated to the club that he would not report for Napoli’s pre-season preparations, which are expected to commence later this month. His stance makes it clear that he is no longer willing to be part of Antonio Conte’s squad, following Napoli’s appointment of the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager. This ongoing transfer saga puts Galatasaray in a tight spot while intensifying speculation around Osimhen’s next move. With the window still open, all eyes are now on whether Napoli will revise their stance or whether another club will enter the fray.
