Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek has provided the latest update on Victor Osimhen's future ahead of the 2026 summer transfer window. The 2025/26 Turkish Super League season has concluded, with Galatasaray winning their fourth consecutive title under coach Okan Buruk. Osimhen played a pivotal role in the title win, scoring 15 league goals despite missing games through injury and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Interest from Top European Clubs
Osimhen's continued influence in Turkey has once again alerted top European clubs. Spanish giants Real Madrid, reportedly at Jose Mourinho's request, and Barcelona, as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski, are among the interested parties. However, Ozbek is confident the club will not sell the Nigerian striker this summer.
Galatasaray President's Statement
According to Turkiye Today, Galatasaray would demand a fee of around €150 million for Osimhen, double what they paid for him. But Ozbek told HT Spor: "We are not considering selling Victor Osimhen. Putting a price on a player we don't intend to sell is like dressing a footballer before he's even born."
The 77-year-old detailed the process Galatasaray went through to sign Osimhen permanently from Napoli after his successful loan spell. Ozbek confirmed that Galatasaray took advantage of Osimhen's desire to continue at the club and entered negotiations with Napoli.
"He has a €75 million release clause, and we started the transfer process accordingly. Napoli requested a guarantee for Osimhen's club. I've never seen anything like that before. Normally, the procedures are very strict! They used the General Manager of UniCredit, who is a partner with Koç, as their guide," Ozbek added.
"We paid part of it upfront, and I provided part from my own company. €35 million from my own company. In that sense, it was a very difficult transfer. Osimhen showed with his performance that he deserved this money."
Champions League Ambitions
The club targets a deep run in the UEFA Champions League as a source of income to offset the transfer fee and Osimhen's €21 million salary. Galatasaray earned €42.3 million for reaching the Round of 16, with potential total earnings reaching €50 million. Osimhen was crucial in their Champions League run, scoring seven goals and providing three assists, and the team was eliminated when he was injured.
Pundit Suggests Replacement
Legit.ng previously reported that a Turkish pundit suggested Viktor Gyokeres as Osimhen's replacement whenever Galatasaray sells the Nigerian. The pundit advised Galatasaray to accept a fee of more than €100 million for the striker and invest in other parts of the squad.
