“He’s made his choice, I wish him the best” – Koulibaly on Osimhen’s Galatasaray move

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Former Napoli captain Kalidou Koulibaly has shared his thoughts on Victor Osimhen’s high-profile transfer to Galatasaray, stressing that the Nigerian striker’s decision was driven by ambition and the warm reception he and his family received in Istanbul.

Both Koulibaly and Osimhen share a deep bond with Napoli, where they each played pivotal roles in the club’s modern success.

Osimhen spearheaded the attack during the 2022/23 season, firing Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years under Luciano Spalletti, before his relationship with the club soured in 2023.

Koulibaly, meanwhile, departed Naples in 2022 after eight years, joining Chelsea before sealing a move to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal a year later — the same club strongly linked with Osimhen before Galatasaray emerged as his eventual destination.

After months of negotiations, Galatasaray secured Osimhen’s signature in a deal worth €75 million, making him the most expensive signing in Turkish football history. The agreement also includes a 10% sell-on clause in favor of Napoli.

Speaking about the transfer, Koulibaly revealed he had spoken with Osimhen before the move:“We had a chance to talk. I frankly explained to him our situation in Saudi Arabia, explaining that there’s a limited or distorted view of our tournament, where there are top-notch players, from Cristiano Ronaldo on down,” Koulibaly told reporters.

“He explained to me that Istanbul welcomed him and his family enthusiastically, that he has strong ambitions. He’s made his choice. I wish him the best.”

Osimhen, who previously had a fruitful loan spell in Turkey earlier in his career, returns now as a marquee signing for Galatasaray.

The Lions will count on his firepower as they aim to compete for domestic honors and make a strong impression in Europe.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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