- Galatasaray assistant manager Ismael Garcia Gomez urges caution over making Victor Osimhen's loan permanent
- Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan after a tense summer at Napoli, thrilling fans in Istanbul with his arrival
- Galatasaray might need to reconsider given the striker's estimated transfer cost and other pressing squad needs
Galatasaray’s acquisition of Super Eagles forward Osimhen in early September was a surprise move, one that saw the Nigerian star sign on loan just days after the European transfer window closed, although linked with several Premier League clubs and even a rumored lucrative Saudi offer, Osimhen found a new home in Istanbul.
According to Galatasaray Assistant Manager Ismael Garcia Gomez, the transfer opportunity was an amazing signing to start the season, a sentiment fans proved as they mobbed Osimhen upon arrival in Istanbul earlier in the season.
Garcia Gomez went on to sound a cautionary note about Victor Osimhen’s future with the club, casting doubt on Galatasaray’s potential financial pursuit of a permanent deal for the striker,
“If I was an accountant, I would say, 'don't do it,” Gomez remarked, stating the financial implications of keeping Osimhen beyond his current one-year loan deal.
Garcia Gomez also explained that Osimhen's future was left hanging after an unsettled summer at Napoli,
“We all know his summer was a bit shaky, there were so many rumours, just that he was definitely not staying [at] Napoli, there were options in Saudi, Chelsea, I don't know exactly what happened. But in [the] last days of [the] market there was an option for us to try. I remember coming from an away game, the head coach Okan Buruk had the first call with him, when we were about to fly back to Istanbul. Then in two days everything was done. For the club, for the fans, it was an amazing signing to start the season.”
While Osimhen’s arrival thrilled fans, financial and strategic doubts persist, Turkish football expert Bayazit outlined the financial concerns in clear terms, suggesting that Galatasaray would likely have to pay a minimum of €50 million should they seek a permanent deal. The club’s record signing, Gabriel Sara from Norwich, came in at €18 million.
Additionally, Bayazit raised the issue of Turkish football’s diminished TV deal, which now stands at $182 million per season, down from $500 million in 2019-20. This financial strain makes the prospect of retaining Osimhen even more daunting.
Osimhen had previously lit up Italy with 26 goals in Napoli’s title-winning 2022-23 season but fell out of favour last season amidst managerial changes, strained relations with Napoli’s ownership, with Romelu Lukaku signed as a replacement, Osimhen was relegated to the sidelines at Napoli, stripped of his squad number for the season. Ultimately, a loan to Galatasaray became the most feasible option after the major European transfer windows had shut, the Super Eagles forward has hence gone ahead to make 7 goal contributions in 7 matches this season.
Mikel Obi discloses plan to lure Osimhen to Stamford Bridge
Previously, TheRadar reported that as the summer transfer window drew to a close, speculation surrounding Victor Osimhen's future continued to intensify.
The Napoli striker, who has requested to leave the club, is heavily linked with a potential transfer to Chelsea. The deal could involve Romelu Lukaku moving in the opposite direction. In a concerted effort to bring the Nigerian star to Stamford Bridge, former Chelsea legends Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel have personally reached out to Osimhen.
