Osimhen defies Napoli clause, rejects January offers for Gala stay News

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Osimhen defies Napoli clause, rejects January offers for Gala stay

By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 6, 2025

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, will see out his one-year loan spell at Galatasaray, after turning down offers to exit the club in the January transfer window which has now closed in most of his designated European leagues except in Turkey, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in the summer without an option to buy.

The Turkish giants provided 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.

His move to Galatasaray was widely celebrated by the fans of the club and they soon feared that the Nigerian was going to leave six months into the contract after he hit the ground running with goals and assists.

Galatasaray’s technical director, Okan Buruk, also confirmed that there was a clause in Osimhen’s loan transfer from Napoli that allows the player to join one of his numerous suitors during the January transfer window.

“There is a clause there, but it doesn’t matter; he said he will stay. There is a clause about transfers in January. This clause has different things,” Buruk said in November 2024.

“The important thing is the player. The player who decides. That’s why Osimhen says he will stay here. He said the same thing when he came.”

Following talks of a potential exit in January, the Super Eagles striker expressed his commitment to Galatasaray, telling reporters after scoring a brace against Tottenham in the Europa League in November 2024.

“I will not leave in January; I am at Galatasaray until the end of the season. I do not know what Galatasaray and Napoli are talking about afterwards, but if they come to me, we will talk,” he said.

Indeed, Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal launched attempts to sign the player from Napoli, but Osimhen reportedly rejected the moves, standing by his promise to Galatasaray to see out his loan spell.

According to Football Italia, the 26-year-old reportedly rejected a deal to join Manchester United during the January transfer window after the club tried to explore ways to end his loan deal at Galatasaray.

At the same time, Arsenal also joined the race to sign the Nigerian as they required a prolific striker to lead their Premier League charge while Juventus also targeted him towards the end of the window.

Before the start of the January window, the player once again made his stance known as revealed by Nigerian OAP, Buchi Laba, who is a close source to the player.

“To make this clear as ABC: Victor Osimhen rejected every offer in January 2025 to stay back at Galatasaray for the full season,” the journalist wrote.

“Yes there’s legit concrete interest but the plan has always been to stay at Galatasaray for the full season and win trophies with the team.”

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.

With the January window now closed in England, ruling out a move to the Premier League until at least the summer, it remains to be seen if Osimhen will be willing to stay permanently in Turkey at the end of his loan spell having fulfilled his first side of the bargain by staying and what is left is to win trophies at the end of the season.

Galatasaray are currently unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig with 57 points, holding a six-point gap ahead of second-placed Fenerbahce.

They are also paired against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the playoffs of the UEFA Europa League.

Osimhen has so far powered their title ambition with 12 goals and four assists in 16 league games while he has also contributed five goals and one assist in six Europa League games.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 6, 2025