Despite Nigerian star Victor Osimhen’s emotional farewell message on Friday, saying, “Galatasaray will always remain in my heart,” the club’s management is determined to keep him in the squad for next season’s UEFA Champions League campaign, according to Türkiye Daily.
Osimhen, who stepped up in the absence of Mauro Icardi and led Galatasaray to victories in both the league and the domestic cup with his goals, has become one of the most talked-about names in Turkish football.
Though currently owned by Napoli, the striker has a €75 million ($80 million) release clause and has attracted interest from major European clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus, and PSG. After scoring in the match against Samsunspor, Osimhen remarked,
“My only focus is the championship. No matter what happens, Galatasaray will always stay in my heart.” The statement was widely interpreted as a goodbye.
However, Galatasaray management is not ready to part ways with the Nigerian international.
Both the club and the player reportedly see UEFA Champions League qualification as the critical factor for continuing their partnership, meaning Galatasaray’s 25th league title could be the deciding moment.
Should Galatasaray secure the title, they plan to use the revenue from Champions League participation to fund Osimhen’s transfer. Additionally, prominent Galatasaray-supporting businessmen are said to be ready to contribute financially to the deal.
Still, with Osimhen’s annual salary alone estimated at 24 million euros ($26 million), the total cost of securing his services could exceed €100 million euros ($107 million)—a daunting figure that highlights the scale of Galatasaray’s challenge ahead.
