Victor Osimhen eventually headed to Turkiye.
On the 5th (Korea time), Turkiye's Galatasaray signed Osimen on loan from Napoli on the club's official website. Osimen will receive 6 million euros from Galatasaray during the 2024-2025 season, the release said. Galatasaray previously announced on the 3rd that it has begun formal negotiations with Naples regarding the lease of Osimen. British The Athletic reporter David Onstein also said on the same day 'Oshimen will head to Galatasaray on loan from Naples. A medical examination is scheduled to take place. There is even a private jet to bring him to Istanbul,' he said. In the end, Osimen's future is decided by going to Galatasaray.
Osimhen is beleaguered. Osimhen has been Europe's hottest striker in the last few years. He became the top scorer in Serie A with 31 goals in the 2022-2023 season. With Osimhen's performance, Napoli won a championship that no one expected. Osimhen has emerged as a hot man in the European market with the attention of all of Europe. Teams in need of strikers lured them with bundles of money. Osimhen was shaken, but the colossus Naples did not budge. Although injuries overlapped last season, he still scored more than 10 goals and played his part.
Osimhen, who had an uncomfortable relationship with Napoli due to racist issues, finally had the opportunity to leave the team this summer. Napoli was also prepared for Osimhen's departure. He signed Romelu Lukaku for 30 million euros. All I have to do is go out now.
But the atmosphere was strange. Paris Saint-Germain, who sent Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, Chelsea and Arsenal, who need a special striker, want it, and the ransom is expected to go through the roof. However, Napoli began to drop one by one, offering too high a transfer fee. Osimen's buyout, which was re-signed in December last year, amounted to 130 million euros. In reality, Napoli thinks 100 million euros plus @ is enough, but no one is offering this amount.
In this situation, Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli jumped in. Osimhen was an attractive target for Saudi Arabia, which is seeking to recruit a superstar. Al Ahli offered Osimhen a whopping 160 million euros over four years, as well as a buyout payment. An annual salary of 30 million euros and a bonus of 40 million euros alone. Osimhen, aiming to remain in Europe, held the Al Ahli card in his hand and started last-minute negotiations.
It was Chelsea. Chelsea wanted a clear striker after transforming under Enzo Maresca. Nicola Jackson was widely considered weak. He resumed negotiations with Osimhen, who had been watching for a long time. Chelsea successfully agreed on the transfer fee with a bold bet. However, the tide has changed as Osimhen demanded too much weekly pay. In the meantime, Al Ahli has confirmed Brentford's signing of special striker Ivan Toney. An important card was withdrawn from Osimhen's point of view, and Chelsea also became disillusioned with Osimhen's demands and ended the transfer market by signing a long-term contract with Jackson.
Osimen became a duck egg on the Nakdonggang River. Napoli manager Antonio Conte has no intention of using it in the first team for Osimhen after Chelsea transfer talks collapsed" delivered a clear message. Napoli came from behind to win 2-1 at home against Parma in the third round of Serie A on the 1st (Korea time). The No. 9 position, which Osimhen has firmly held for four seasons since the 2020-2021 season, has already been handed over to a new transfer and to Romelu Lukaku who is 'Conte's Adjeja'.
Shortly after the victory, Conte expressed satisfaction when asked about Napoli's performance in the summer transfer market with Premier League aces such as Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour joining the team. "They came to my team to fill the vacancy, and I'm happy with what the club did." I gave a shot at Osimhen's choice with 'Straightforward' that "Of course, if Osimhen had been sold, we could have made things better.'
Conte's comments came shortly after the Napoli club informed Osimhen that he would not be welcome in Conte's squad even if he returned. Osimhen, who failed to escape, also reportedly stated that he would not play for Napoli.
Osimhen, who was greedy and eventually faced the worst of being unable to go to Chelsea, go to Saudi, or play for Napoli, sought a new breakthrough. It was a Turkiye. Galatasaray reached out. Galatasaray is a prestigious club, but it is certainly an unexpected scenario for Osimen, who played in the big league, not making much money and playing in a lower league. Osimhen became very angry after being greedy.
The bigger problem is that he signed an extension with Napoli until June 2027. Osimhen may have difficulty escaping Naples for a long time. It is impossible for Naples, the colossus, to let Osimhen go easily. From Kim Min-jae's point of view, it may be fortunate to leave the team quickly.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
