Victor Osimhen complete Galatasaray loan move from Napoli
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Victor Osimhen don complete im sensational transfer to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Galatasaray go pay €6 million ($6.65 million) net to di 25-year-old Nigerian international for di 2024-2025 season, di club tok for one statement.
Napoli also reach agreement wit Osimhen say dem fit extend di contract until 2027.
Osimhen bin join Napoli from Lille for July 2020 in a deal wey reportedly worth £73m ($96m), and make am di most expensive African player of all time.
Im bin score a respectable 10 goals for im first season bifor a change of coach see Gennaro Gattuso replaced by Luciano Spalletti.
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Under Spalletti, Osimhen bin net18 times for im second season bifor plundering 31 in all competitions as Napoli run away wit di title race in 2022-23, scooping di club’s first Scudetto since 1990.
Osimhen bin finish di campaign as Serie A’s top scorer and dey voted as African Player of di Year for December 2023 – just days bifor im sign one one bumper new contract, worth over £10m ($13m) a year, as Napoli move to protect di value of dia asset.
“Napoli bin handle di situation badly last season wen dem offer am a renewal of di contract,” Italian sports journalist Daniele Verri tok.
Verri believe say Osimhen suppose “leave almost immediately” afta di new deal, wey includes a £113m ($148m) release clause, dey agreed.
“Na over a year now wey dem manage to destroy evritin.”
Wetin happun to Chelsea transfer?
While several club bin show interest in Osimhen, many bin no engage in formal tok-tok. Paris St Germain tok, but dem bin no agree fee wit Napoli.
Wit di Nigerian refusing to accept lower salary and Aurelio De Laurentiis until recently insisting say im go receive di full release clause, di bill bin dey prohibitive.
Chelsea bin expect Osimhen wage demands to drop as di end of di transfer window approach.
But afta dem investigate both straight loan and deal including obligation to buy, di Stamford Bridge hierarchy ultimately decide against either on deadline day sake of dia strict new wage structure based on performance-related pay.
Osimhen publicly state dream na to play in di Premier League one day, but now im options bin dey slim.
Wetin happun to Saudi Arabia?
Im oda possible destination na to go Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Wit Napoli finally willing to bend, terms bin dey initially agreed on deal wey worth around £60m ($78.6m) - only for De Laurentiis to raise di price again at di last minute.
E mean say while Osimhen team dey happy wit di salary offer, Al-Ahli eventually choose cheaper £40m ($52.4m) deal for Brentford Ivan Toney.
E no dey clear weda Osimhen dey happy on a move to Saudi, but comment from im agent Victor Calenda ahead of deadline day suggest say e no be top priority.
“Im (Osimhen) no be package wey dem fit ship far away to make room for new prophets. Victor na elected African Footballer of di Year, eighth for Ballon d'Or, e still get wetin e go do for Europe."
Wetin go happun now?
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
As e don complete im loan move, Osimhen go team up wit former Napoli team-mate Dries Mertens and also tread di path of im football hero, Ivorian legend Didier Drogba, wey spend one season wit Galatasaray and dey known to dey advice Osihmen.
“Na big club and e dey play for European football evri year, and dem get passionate fans,” Odemwingie tok.
“Pressure dey to play for big Turkish clubs.
“Victor now don earn di respect of di fans and earn big move next," e tok.
Dat move fit come in January, wit mid-season break clause wey dey part of di deal, if any European football super clubs come for January.
Ironically, ahead of di move, extension go dey for im Napoli contract, as di Neapolitans dey try to prevent Osimhen price from dropping next summer wen e get just one year for im contract.
Verri agree say di most likely way forward na for Osimhen to perform well for Turkey and for Napoli to “accept lower fee” for am at di end of di season.
“Fans go dey happy if im leave,” e tok. “No one fit see Osimhen anymore for Naples.”
For Odemwingie, di Galatasaray move also dey important for Nigeria international hopes.
“Victor na key player and leader,” im tok. “E dey important say e dey fit and happy.
“In my days, seeing big names dey get me excited and I get more belief say we fit win big games.
“I hope say e fit get peace for im heart and enjoy playing football.”
