The summer transfer market was marked by unexpected movements. Among them, the signing of Victor Osimhen in Galatasaray caused a lot of ink to flow. Expected in several renowned clubs after his time at Napoli, the Nigerian striker surprised by joining the Turkish club on loan. But this transfer, as unexpected as it may be, has perhaps not yet delivered all its surprises. A clause in his contract could, in fact, send him back to the forefront this winter, and a club is already on the lookout.
This summer, many clubs repositioned themselves in unpredictable ways. Sébastien Haller chose Leganés, Adrien Rabiot packed his bags for Olympique de Marseille, and Maxime Lopez joined Paris FC. But the astonishment was even greater when Victor Osimhen, followed by the biggest teams, opted for a loan to Galatasaray. With his 76 goals scored in 132 appearances for Napoli, he was expected to land at a club of a higher caliber. The reason for this departure is largely based on the arrival of Romelu Lukaku in Naples. Antonio Conte, new coach of the Partenopei, preferred to bet on a player he knows well. This choice pushed Osimhen towards the exit. Long associated with Paris Saint-Germain to take over from Kylian Mbappé, he however did not obtain the approval of Luis Enrique. Chelsea, also on the spot, finally decided to withdraw from the case. Thus, it was Galatasaray who won at the last minute on September 4, after reaching an agreement with Naples.
The press release from the Turkish club was intended to be clear: “An agreement has been reached with professional footballer Victor James Osimhen and his club SSCN Napoli SPA regarding the temporary free transfer of the player. The footballer will receive a net seasonal salary of 6,000,000 euros for the 2024-2025 season.” A way for Galatasaray to attract the player while minimizing financial risks, especially since his contract was extended until 2027 with Naples.
But this agreement includes a clause that could change everything as soon as January. According to the Corriere dello SportChelsea, who have not completely put an end to Osimhen, plan to relaunch an offensive this winter. To do this, the Blues would have to pay 75 million euros for Naples, plus the 6 million euros in compensation to Galatasaray. A sum which could quickly increase if Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, demands more than 100 million euros, as he has already done in the past. For its part, Galatasaray, satisfied with the striker’s performances (2 goals and 3 assists in 4 matches), does not rule out exercising the purchase option to permanently keep Osimhen. This winter therefore promises to be turbulent for the Nigerian, at the heart of all desires.
