*Forced To Sign New Deal Before Leaving Napoli
NIGERIAN international, Victor Osimhen, has landed in Turkey to restart his career on a one-year dry loan to Galatasaray. Shortly before then, he was forced to sign a new contract with Napoli before joining the Turkish club, meaning there is no option or obligation to buy, according to Football Italia.
The Nigerian striker left Napoli, where he has fallen out of favour, on Monday night, September 2, for Galatasaray, where he was given a rousing welcome early in the morning on a yearly salary of €11million, despite Napoli demanding some guarantees that their investment will be safe, in a last-ditch effort to further frustrate the deal.
Recall that Osimhen’s contract with the Serie A club in December last year runs until June 2026. If he leaves on loan now and returns in June 2025, there would be only one year left on the contract, giving Napoli a very weak negotiating power for a sale.
So, before he is allowed to fly out for a medical, Osimhen is being forced to first sign an extension with Napoli to June 2027 on the same terms.
The alternative would have been for the Turkish club to pay a fee for the loan, but have the wages shared between them.
The striker was unable to complete a transfer deal to English Premier club, Chelsea, just before the transfer window in England closed last weekend, and also missed out on a move to Saudi Arabian team, Al-Hilal, due to Napoli’s extraordinary last-minute demand.
Football journalist, Fabrizio Romano, said “Napoli have accepted a straight loan proposal, but with no option to buy, and Galatasaray to cover about £10million of his salary.”
It now remains to be seen if Osimhen would give the green light to the move.
The Italian club had earlier announced that Osimhen would not be reintegrated into the squad after a frustrating transfer debacle that saw Romelu Lukaku brought in as his direct replacement.
But the 25-year-old striker still has a lifeline to exit Napoli, as the Turkish transfer window closes on September 13.
Napoli’s Director of Sport, Giovanni Manna, confirmed to Sports Digitale in Turkey: “It is correct to say we are in talks with Galatasaray and we are close to an agreement.”
According to Pooja Media, both clubs also agreed that the player’s €130million release clause might be triggered by potential suitors from January 2025.
Osimhen was also said to be enthusiastic about the idea of joining Galatasaray after being faced with the prospect of having to sit in the stands until the transfer window opens in January.
Before the end of the summer transfer deadline last Friday, the EPL was his preferred destination, but he could not compromise his wage demands, as Chelsea offered him just €4million per year, plus €4million attached to performance, compared to his €12million annual income at his present club.
Napoli were also said to have agreed a €70million, plus €10million in bonuses with Al-Ahli, with the player receiving €40million per-season wages and crucially also an affordable release clause for a return to Europe in the near future.
But Napoli asked for an extra €5million, which irritated the Saudis.
After both deals failed, Napoli were adamant he would not be welcomed back into the squad, also because they insisted it was the Nigeria international who declared months ago he no longer wanted to play for them.
If he joins Galatasaray, he would be reunited with former Napoli teammate, Dries Mertens, in Istanbul.
Although he had wanted a Champions League team, at least Osimhen would still be able to compete in the Europa League with Galatasaray, who are facing Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax in the tournament.
