Galatasaray’s Bid Falls Short
Italian club Napoli has turned down a €65m offer from Turkish side Galatasaray for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Galatasaray sought to make Osimhen’s loan move permanent but failed to meet his €75m release clause.
Loan Deal and Compensation Clause
Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray until the season’s end, does not have an option to buy in his deal. However, a special compensation clause grants Galatasaray a unique advantage in negotiations.
If Osimhen transfers to another club in January, Galatasaray will receive €6m in compensation, effectively raising his release clause to €81m for other interested clubs during the winter window. This structure allows Galatasaray to secure his signing for €75m this month, while other clubs must wait until the summer to activate the same release clause.
Reduced Release Clause
Initially, Osimhen’s release clause was set at €130m. However, it was lowered last summer when he extended his contract with Napoli before moving to Galatasaray on loan.
Osimhen’s Stellar Performance
The Nigerian international has been in exceptional form for Galatasaray, scoring 16 goals and providing five assists in 20 appearances since joining the Turkish club.
In December, Osimhen reaffirmed his commitment to seeing out the loan spell, stating, “I will not leave in January, I am at Galatasaray until the end of the season. I do not know what Galatasaray and Napoli are talking about afterwards, but if they come to me, we will talk.”
Rising Market Value
Osimhen’s stock has surged following an outstanding 2022/23 season with Napoli, where he netted 26 goals to claim the Serie A Golden Boot. His contributions helped Napoli secure their first league title in over three decades, making him one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers.
